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The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Jones’ Latest Arrest & Brace For UFC 266

The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories Here are some of the raw reactions from the MMA community to the sport’s hottest stories! Jon Jones Arrested For Battery Domestic Violence & Injuring W/Vehicle Earlier today, it was revealed that Jon Jones had yet another run-in with the law when he was […]

Continue Reading The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Jones’ Latest Arrest & Brace For UFC 266 at MMA News.

The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

Here are some of the raw reactions from the MMA community to the sport’s hottest stories!

Jon Jones Arrested For Battery Domestic Violence & Injuring W/Vehicle

Earlier today, it was revealed that Jon Jones had yet another run-in with the law when he was arrested for battery domestic violence, injuring with a vehicle, and tampering with a vehicle. Below you’ll find the raw reaction from the MMA community to this unfortunate news.

UFC 266 Takes Place Live Tomorrow Night on Pay-Per-View

It all goes down tomorrow night with three five-found feature bouts on tap inside the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are some of the comments from UFC fans in the final hours ahead of the event.

Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

Want to be featured in an upcoming edition of The Pulse of MMA? Be sure to give our Twitter page a follow and let your voice be heard in the comments sections!

Continue Reading The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Jones’ Latest Arrest & Brace For UFC 266 at MMA News.

Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman

Fan-favorite Nick Diaz returns to action tomorrow night and Dana White illuminated that only an idiot would have paired him with the champion, Kamaru Usman. At UFC 266 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas NV., Nick Diaz will return to the Octagon after a lengthy hiatus. Having not fought since facing Anderson Silva in […]

Continue Reading Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman at MMA News.

Fan-favorite Nick Diaz returns to action tomorrow night and Dana White illuminated that only an idiot would have paired him with the champion, Kamaru Usman.

At UFC 266 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas NV., Nick Diaz will return to the Octagon after a lengthy hiatus. Having not fought since facing Anderson Silva in 2015, many are exuberant about the return of the elder Diaz brother. So much so, in fact, that some are calling for the OG Stockton slapper to take on the welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman. Of course, this comes after Diaz called the champ out in an exclusive interview for ESPN.

Ahead of the five-round non-title fight, UFC President Dana White spoke with Yahoo Sports to clear up any misunderstanding about where Diaz ranks on the 170-pound totem pole. In addition, the UFC boss reiterated that he believes Usman to be the #1-pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“You think he should be fighting Kamaru Usman? You know what I’ve been saying lately: Kamaru Usman is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, OK? (He beat Jorge) Masvidal twice, Gilbert Burns, Tyron Woodley, (Rafael dos Anjos), Demian Maia, Leon Edwards. I mean, the list of guys that this guy has beaten is unbelievable, and the way that he beat them,” White said (h/t MMAjunkie.com). “He’s the world champion in that division and he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Does anybody out there think that that’s who Nick Diaz should come back and fight after not fighting for seven years? That would be an idiot that would make that fight.”

It’s increasingly clear that the UFC was never serious about linking Usman and Diaz up, though granted, the fight sounds like a fun sell.

How do you think a fight with Kamaru Usman and Nick Diaz would go?

Continue Reading Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman at MMA News.

Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman

Fan-favorite Nick Diaz returns to action tomorrow night and Dana White illuminated that only an idiot would have paired him with the champion, Kamaru Usman. At UFC 266 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas NV., Nick Diaz will return to the Octagon after a lengthy hiatus. Having not fought since facing Anderson Silva in […]

Continue Reading Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman at MMA News.

Fan-favorite Nick Diaz returns to action tomorrow night and Dana White illuminated that only an idiot would have paired him with the champion, Kamaru Usman.

At UFC 266 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas NV., Nick Diaz will return to the Octagon after a lengthy hiatus. Having not fought since facing Anderson Silva in 2015, many are exuberant about the return of the elder Diaz brother. So much so, in fact, that some are calling for the OG Stockton slapper to take on the welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman. Of course, this comes after Diaz called the champ out in an exclusive interview for ESPN.

Ahead of the five-round non-title fight, UFC President Dana White spoke with Yahoo Sports to clear up any misunderstanding about where Diaz ranks on the 170-pound totem pole. In addition, the UFC boss reiterated that he believes Usman to be the #1-pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“You think he should be fighting Kamaru Usman? You know what I’ve been saying lately: Kamaru Usman is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, OK? (He beat Jorge) Masvidal twice, Gilbert Burns, Tyron Woodley, (Rafael dos Anjos), Demian Maia, Leon Edwards. I mean, the list of guys that this guy has beaten is unbelievable, and the way that he beat them,” White said (h/t MMAjunkie.com). “He’s the world champion in that division and he’s the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. Does anybody out there think that that’s who Nick Diaz should come back and fight after not fighting for seven years? That would be an idiot that would make that fight.”

It’s increasingly clear that the UFC was never serious about linking Usman and Diaz up, though granted, the fight sounds like a fun sell.

How do you think a fight with Kamaru Usman and Nick Diaz would go?

Continue Reading Dana White Responds To Nick Diaz’s Gripe About Not Fighting Usman at MMA News.

Adesanya Cites Bureaucracy & Racism In Vow To Never Fight In NZ Again

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya says we will never see him compete in New Zealand ever again, citing the maltreatment of MMA athletes and racism as two reasons why. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread changes everywhere in the world, and New Zealand is no different. Among these changes is the inability of Adesanya, […]

Continue Reading Adesanya Cites Bureaucracy & Racism In Vow To Never Fight In NZ Again at MMA News.

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya says we will never see him compete in New Zealand ever again, citing the maltreatment of MMA athletes and racism as two reasons why.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread changes everywhere in the world, and New Zealand is no different. Among these changes is the inability of Adesanya, Dan Hooker, and other native fighters to create a lockdown bubble to train for their upcoming fights.

Hooker will be competing tomorrow night at UFC 266 against Nasrat Haqparast on the preliminary card, but it has been a very trying experience for “The Hangman.” Aside from the US visa issues that Hooker managed to resolve right in the nick of time, he also had to overcome warnings from police regarding violations for congregating inside his team’s unofficial bubble.

Hooker’s close friend and the always vocal Israel Adesanya shared his thoughts on the way the country has been treating MMA compared to other sports during the pandemic, and he’s had enough.

“You will never see me fight in New Zealand ever again,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel.

“All that money, they can get it from somewhere else. Their rugbys, their crickets, and all the others they’re giving exemptions to, but you will never ever see me fight on these shores [again].

Israel Adesanya
Image Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“That was one of my dreams, to headline a stadium in my backyard. That dream’s dead in the water … that’s just the way I feel right now.”

Prior to competing in the UFC, Adesanya competed in New Zealand four times, including in his MMA debut. He has never had the opportunity to usher his graceful style of fighting into a New Zealand arena during his three-year UFC stint, however.

Adesanya also lashed out at journalists, who he accused of staking out Dan Hooker’s gym, Combat Academy, with the aim of reporting their activities to the police. The Kiwi wouldn’t be surprised if New Zealand bureaucrats treated him this way, as he is convinced the powers that be have their cloaked reasons for disliking him, but he wouldn’t expect Hooker to experience this treatment.

“He talks too much, he’s not humble enough, he doesn’t represent us Kiwis,” Adesanya mimicked people saying about him.

“They’re racists, some of them are f***ing racists,” he continues. “Of course they don’t want a black boy representing New Zealand. But you’re doing this to Dan ‘Hangman’ Hooker.”

The lack of humility description that Adesanya references dates back to a trope many have argued has historically been used disproportionately on black athletes. Thursday, Adesanya posted a tweet from where boxing great Muhammad Ali once took a Q&A audience member to task for this very reason after she claimed not to like him due to his “arrogance.”

“Relevant…please revise,” Adesanya said captioning the tweet.

Adesanya had hoped that his rematch with Robert Whittaker would take place in New Zealand, but complications linked to the pandemic stopped those hopes before they ever got off the ground. Now, even if it were all systems go for the fight to be held in the country, it looks as though The Last Style Bender would be the one to nip those plans in the bud.

Continue Reading Adesanya Cites Bureaucracy & Racism In Vow To Never Fight In NZ Again at MMA News.

Jon Jones Provides Major Updates On 2022 UFC Return

Jon Jones has provided some major details regarding his targeted return to the UFC next year. Earlier this week, Jon Jones’ new lead advisor, Richard Schaefer, shared that Jones plans to bulk up to over 270 pounds in his quest to be the baddest heavyweight the UFC has ever seen. Now, Jones himself is sharing […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Provides Major Updates On 2022 UFC Return at MMA News.

Jon Jones has provided some major details regarding his targeted return to the UFC next year.

Earlier this week, Jon Jones’ new lead advisor, Richard Schaefer, shared that Jones plans to bulk up to over 270 pounds in his quest to be the baddest heavyweight the UFC has ever seen. Now, Jones himself is sharing more information about his future heavyweight debut.

One thing we’ve known for some time now is that Jones has been planning on making his return sometime in 2022. Speaking to reporters backstage at the 2021 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Jones closed in on a more specific timeline.

“I think it’ll be sometime in the second quarter of 2022,” Jones estimated.

The reason for this time frame is that Francis Ngannou is expected to defend his UFC heavyweight title against interim champion Ciryl Gane around January. It would then take a few months in order for the Jones/Ngannou bout to actualize.

Jon Jones Gives Update On Pay Negotiations

Jon Jones
Jon Jones, Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports

There is still that pesky matter regarding pay, however. This has been the biggest roadblock between a Ngannou/Jones fight from taking shape based on the public spat between Jones and Dana White earlier this year. Those issues are now seemingly a thing of the past, with Jones sounding more than pleased with the direction things are heading.

“[Dana White] guaranteed me that he would give me an increase in my next fight,” Jones revealed. “So I’m really excited about that. I think it’s going to be pay-per-view based, so I’m gonna have to work for the money that I get. I’m gonna have to sell the fight.”

With the relationship between Jones and White now repaired, the former light heavyweight king credits Richard Schaefer for bridging the once-wide divide.

“It’s good. It’s good,” Jones said of his relationship with White these days. “I think me hiring Richard Schaefer was one of the best decisions I’ve made instead of me getting on Twitter and attacking Dana and pouring my emotions out. I just allow Schaefer to get down to what’s the most important in every situation and talk to the people that need to be (spoken) to instead of me going back and forth with the fans on Twitter. So the relationship’s good. Schaefer has really helped out a lot.” 

Are you excited to see Jon Jones’s long-awaited heavyweight debut next year?

Continue Reading Jon Jones Provides Major Updates On 2022 UFC Return at MMA News.

Nick Diaz Says Nate’s UFC 263 Loss Affected His Focus & Preparation

Returning UFC legend Nick Diaz has revealed the impact his brother Nate’s defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 263 had on his focus and preparation ahead of his own return. While Nick gets set for his comeback this weekend at UFC 266, Nate is on the hunt for his second opponent of the year. The […]

Continue Reading Nick Diaz Says Nate’s UFC 263 Loss Affected His Focus & Preparation at MMA News.

Returning UFC legend Nick Diaz has revealed the impact his brother Nate’s defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 263 had on his focus and preparation ahead of his own return.

While Nick gets set for his comeback this weekend at UFC 266, Nate is on the hunt for his second opponent of the year. The younger Diaz sibling entered the Octagon for the first time since 2019 earlier this year at the June pay-per-view. Against #3-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards, the 36-year-old featured in the UFC’s first non-title and non-main event five-round fight.

Despite being beaten and bloodied for the best part of 24 minutes, a late final-minute flurry brought the fans to their feet and nearly saw a remarkable comeback victory for Diaz. In the end, it was “Rocky” who took home a comfortable unanimous decision on the scorecards.

Nate Diaz Leon Edwards
Jun 12, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Leon Edwards moves in for a hit as Nate Diaz defends during UFC 263 at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-452019 ORIG FILE ID: 20210612_gav_su5_197.jpg

While his brother put on an entertaining display and maintained his reputation as a fan favorite, Nick Diaz has revealed the negative impact the result had on his own focus and mindset. During an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Nick said that his brother’s fight added more stress to an already hard-going training camp.

“Since I’ve had this fight coming up, I’ve been under a lot of stress, yeah. It has not been an easy-going training camp. Because I haven’t fought for a long time for one; and then for two, things just didn’t go my way. Watching my brother fight was hard. That was really hard for me to do. I didn’t expect it to be like that. I wasn’t really ready to leave what I was doing at the time, and it just kinda made me look at things differently after that. I’m a lot different now than before I saw that fight.”

Diaz added that, in hindsight, he should have stayed away from the event and focused on his own preparation. However, given the relationship he has with his brother, that would have been easier said than done.

“Just the timing. It was the wrong time for me to be in there watching that, all up in the mix like that real quick…I wouldn’t even have gone. I would’ve stayed away and focused on myself. But I didn’t know any better. I was doing what I always did. And then going back in there with my brother, it just put my head right back in it and I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ It was a lot for me to deal with…being away for five years and coming back and seeing that? That was really something new. It really kinda knocked my block off. I took harder punches watching that than I ever did in sparring or any fights. It’s my baby brother, you know? It’s hard to watch him fight.”

After Nate’s loss to Edwards, Nick will be hoping to be more successful when he enters the Octagon against Robbie Lawler this Saturday. Like his brother’s recent outing, the 38-year-old will fight in a rare non-title and non-main event five-round clash.

Lawler and Diaz first met at UFC 47 in 2004. In a rematch 17 years in the making, Diaz will be targeting a replica of the second-round knockout he secured over “Ruthless” towards the start of the century. But despite being on a four-fight losing skid, Lawler has remained active across the last decade and is a former UFC Welterweight Champion.

After a late weight class change forced by the Diaz camp, it remains to be seen how either man will perform given the late move to middleweight.

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 266? Nick Diaz or Robbie Lawler?

Continue Reading Nick Diaz Says Nate’s UFC 263 Loss Affected His Focus & Preparation at MMA News.