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O’Malley Reveals Why He’s Expecting A Less Active Year In 2022

Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed why he expects to fall short of another three-fight year in 2022.

Whilst not matching the years the likes of Charles Oliveira and Kamaru Usman had inside the Octagon in 2021, O’Malley cer…

Sean O'Malley

Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed why he expects to fall short of another three-fight year in 2022.

Whilst not matching the years the likes of Charles Oliveira and Kamaru Usman had inside the Octagon in 2021, O’Malley certainly increased his stock and hype with victories over three unranked opponents

Heading into the year, “Sugar” was looking to rebound from his first loss in professional MMA, a setback that came against Marlon “Chito” Vera in August 2020 at UFC 252. In his first appearance of 2021, O’Malley returned to the win column by brutally knocking out the once-highly-touted prospect Thomas Almeida at UFC 260.

Fast forward four months and the 27-year-old was back on a winning streak. After the withdrawal of Louis Smolka, O’Malley was matched up with promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho at UFC 264. On his way to a third-round TKO triumph, the Montana native put in a record-breaking striking performance.

In his third fight of the year, O’Malley recorded his third finish and secured his third post-fight bonus of 2021. At UFC 269, he knocked out formerly ranked bantamweight Raulian Paiva inside the opening round.

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O’Malley Says Injury Will Likely Prevent Another 3-Fight Year

Since returning from injury and a USADA suspension in 2020, O’Malley has been an active presence in the division, competing six times since March 2020. However, “Sugar” believes his two-year streak of fitting three fights into both 2020 and 2021 will end in 2022.

During a recent interview with Michael Bisping, O’Malley was seen wearing a cast after injuring his thumb in his last outing against Paiva. Despite being set to get the cast off in the coming days, the #12-ranked bantamweight won’t be rushing back into camp, a level of caution he expects to limit his activity to two appearances in the Octagon across the next 12 months.

“The last two years, I’ve gotten three fights in each year. I think that’s kind of a good pace right now. I’m thinking this year, 2022, I really wanna get three fights in, but I don’t wanna force anything. So, you know, this year might only allow for two, just kind of considering where my thumb’s at right now. It’s not bad, I get the cast off next week, but I don’t wanna push or force any training camps or anything.”

With O’Malley admitting he’s unlikely to make the UFC 272 card in March, “Sugar” expects to wait for the next pay-per-view scheduled for Las Vegas before returning.

With UFC 273 set for New York and rumors that UFC 274 could signal the promotion’s return to Brazil, fans may be waiting until early summer before seeing O’Malley back inside the cage.

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

Continue Reading O’Malley Reveals Why He’s Expecting A Less Active Year In 2022 at MMA News.

Chandler Would Prefer Move To Welterweight, Targets Diaz Fight

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is hoping to test his skills at welterweight, and has thrown his name into the hat to face Nate Diaz.

Since arriving in the Octagon last year, Chandler has grown into both a fan favorite and legitimate con…

Nate Diaz, Michael Chandler

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler is hoping to test his skills at welterweight, and has thrown his name into the hat to face Nate Diaz.

Since arriving in the Octagon last year, Chandler has grown into both a fan favorite and legitimate contender in the 155-pound division. In just three fights, the former three-time Bellator champion has fought for the title and been involved in a consensus Fight of the Year clash against Justin Gaethje in Madison Square Garden.

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Despite now boasting a negative 1-2 record in the UFC, Chandler remains one of the top fighters at 155 pounds, and not many other stars will attract as much attention with their outings as he will in 2022. While he’s currently taking an extended break from the Octagon, he’s also not shied away from interacting with potential next opponents.

Chandler Adds New Name To His List Of Potential Opponents

Nate Diaz taunts Conor McGregor
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

As well as making his desire to face MMA’s biggest superstar Conor McGregor clear, the 35-year-old has suggested he’d be open to facing either Tony Ferguson or Dustin Poirier. However, he also has another name in mind, a fan-favorite Stockton star who could tempt him up a weight class.

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Chandler suggested a potential matchup with Nate Diaz has been flying under the radar. Nevertheless, he believes that clash needs to happen while both men remain in the promotion.

“Nate Diaz, nobody’s ever talked about me and Nate Diaz fighting, but for some reason I’m like, ‘I feel like me and Nate Diaz should probably share the Octagon at some point.’ And obviously… I know his contract is coming to a close, he’s looking at fighting Poirier, that’s the fight he says he wants, but then he called the UFC and the UFC said, ‘Poirier sucks.’ [LAUGHS]. That tweet was genius.”

If the bout does come to fruition, Chandler has no doubts it would mark his debut at welterweight. Discussing whether that could signal a permanent move up to 170 pounds, Chandler admitted he’d like to avoid making the cut to 155 pounds unless it’s to fight for the title or to face McGregor.

“Yeah, we’ll throw Nate Diaz’s name in the hat. And I’d love to fight at 170 instead of 155, I’ll tell you that much. Definitely when I fight Diaz, it’s gonna be at 170, for sure. I’ve been competing in the 150s since I was a senior in high school… That 150-something is not very fun. Health-wise, it’s one of the things that makes it hard in this sport.

“When I got done with this last fight, I said I don’t want to make 155 unless it was Conor or for the title. Obviously I lost that fight, I’m not fighting for the title next, and Conor could be a long shot at this point… We’ll see what happens, I definitely don’t wanna make 155 but I’m a man of my word and I signed a contract at 155 pounds.”

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It’s clear that Michael Chandler has a lot of options and a lot of ambitions in the UFC. And while he’s taking the necessary time to recover form his last fight, we can expect to see “Iron” back in a big fight, on a big card, and with big implications later this year.

Would you like to see Michael Chandler face Nate Diaz at welterweight?

Continue Reading Chandler Would Prefer Move To Welterweight, Targets Diaz Fight at MMA News.

Frustrated Sterling Explains Why Yan Rematch Is Being Delayed Yet Again

Aljamain Sterling confirmed reports that his rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 272 may get pushed back to April.

Sterling got the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an illegal knee at UFC 259. The UFC has attempted to put the rematch together on…

Aljamain Sterling

Aljamain Sterling confirmed reports that his rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 272 may get pushed back to April.

Sterling got the belt via disqualification after Yan landed an illegal knee at UFC 259. The UFC has attempted to put the rematch together on multiple occasions, but injuries and other issues have come to the surface.

Sterling and Yan were supposed to fight at UFC 267 before Sterling pulled out due to lingering health issues. Yan would then fight and beat Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title.

During a recent post on social media, Sterling confirmed rumors that the Yan rematch may be in jeopardy once again.

“Yes, they’re talking about pushing my fight back to April,” Sterling said. “Not because of me. This is what I was told: [Mocking] ‘Yan isn’t vaccinated so he can’t fight in March’.

“I actually respect his gangster. If this is the real reason, I actually respect his stance. I respect it, but it doesn’t make any sense. And I’m making fun of it because it’s like, is he going to be vaccinated in April? I don’t think so. So what are we doing?

“I just want to know when we’re fighting. It’s about time we get to punch each other in the face. So, hopefully, we can figure this out sooner rather than later, unify these belts and figure out who is really the guy.”

The tension between Sterling and Yan has skyrocketed in recent months. Sterling has accused Yan of using performance-enhancing drugs, which Yan has vehemently denied.

Since the time of their first matchup, the UFC’s bantamweight division has grown into arguably the most stacked division in the sport. The title picture is in desperate need of clarity, beginning with the second chapter of Sterling vs. Yan.

As of now, it appears that the fight could likely get pushed back to UFC 273 in April, which is slated to be the promotion’s pay-per-view in Brooklyn, NY. Therefore, fans may have to wait a little longer to see these two rivals go to battle once again.

What is your reaction to the Aljamain Sterling/Petr Yan rematch getting pushed back once again?

Continue Reading Frustrated Sterling Explains Why Yan Rematch Is Being Delayed Yet Again at MMA News.

Javier Mendez Explains Jake Paul’s Claim Of Training With Khabib & AKA

Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.

Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is te…

Javier Mendez Khabib Nurmagomedov Jake Paul

Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.

Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is teasing a transition to MMA to continue his rise in combat sports.

Recently, he teased that he will be joining the top MMA gym American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). This is the home gym for UFC greats Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Cain Velasquez. Head coach of AKA Javier Mendez addressed this rumor of Paul joining the team in an interview with The Schmo.

“It could happen. But like anybody, we have to go through all the coaches and all the fighters that are here,” Mendez explained. “And anybody that’s a famous athlete like him, they would go through the routine that everybody does. So he would have to get voted by everybody—not everybody. If there’s one person in particular that doesn’t want him here for that particular reason, he can’t be here.”

Although Mendez is impressed with what Paul has been able to do so far in the boxing world, that doesn’t mean he will have the same effect in MMA. AKA has been the home to many top-ranked UFC fighters over the years but the addition of Paul could make some new waves for the gym. Mendez likes the fire Paul has lit for himself so far but says there have yet to be any actual discussions of Paul joining the team.

“First of all, he’s never asked. What he’s done is he’s marketed himself out there beautifully,” Mendez said. “I love the plug he gave us. I think it was a fantastic plug, and I think he is a fantastic person, and I think that he markets himself fantastic. I love what he does. He creates interest. How could you not like a guy who creates interest?”

Although there seems to be some level of interest from both parties, the deal to have Paul join the likes of Nurmagmoedov is far from set. Paul was involved with a public spat with AKA alum Daniel Cormier last year. The animosity between these two could be one thing that prevents the YouTuber from joining the AKA ranks, as everyone at AKA would have to sign off on his membership.

“I sent him a text of encouragement, a heartfelt message. I felt it was the right type of message to send because it was legit,” Mendez said. “And he, in turn, returned the favor by talking about training with us. But the reality is that no matter who you are, it could be the greatest fighter whatever you still have to go through the team to consent to train with us.”

Would you like to see Paul join AKA and begin his MMA career under Mendez and Nurmagomedov?

Continue Reading Javier Mendez Explains Jake Paul’s Claim Of Training With Khabib & AKA at MMA News.

Watch: Khamzat Chimaev Restrained By Security At MMA Event

Khamzat Chimaev was involved in an incident at an MMA event.

According to several reports, Chimaev was sitting in the front row to cheer on one of his teammates. After the ref called the fight off, the Swede then jumped the rails to make his way to…

Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev was involved in an incident at an MMA event.

According to several reports, Chimaev was sitting in the front row to cheer on one of his teammates. After the ref called the fight off, the Swede then jumped the rails to make his way toward the cage to protest the stoppage.

Security was quick to get Chimaev and intervened, but a small scuffle did happen.

The good news is, no one was hurt in the altercation, and security was able to calm Chimaev down rather quickly.

The 10-0 Khamzat Chimaev is currently the 11th-ranked welterweight and is coming off a submission win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267 in the first round. It was his fourth win inside the Octagon as he also has a one-punch KO win over Gerald Meerschaert and stoppage wins over Rhys McKee and John Phillips in 10 days.

Chimaev does not have his next fight booked, but many are hoping he gets a title shot sometime soon. As it stands, a bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 appears the most likely scenario.

Chimaev has been considered one of the most feared men in the UFC. Dana White has claimed that other welterweights do not want to fight him, while Chael Sonnen believes he’s already psychologically defeated the entire division.

“There’s a lot of ways to beat a guy, but if you can do it psychologically and you never have to get out there,” Sonnen explained on his Beyond the Fight show. “Dan Henderson had a great line one time, which is Dan was in a bar with somebody, and the guy said, ‘Hey, Dan. If I get in some trouble, you know, will you walk over there, beat this guy down for me?’ And Dan simply said, ‘Why do I need to beat him down when I can stare him down?’ And that rule of life doesn’t go away…”

“You can stare a guy down, and he backs down; it is the art of war because the great generals never fire a shot,” Sonnen said. “They don’t need to. They align their troops and make the other people retreat. And if Chimaev is successfully doing that – If less than 20 minutes of action, three double-legs, a rear-naked choke, and a left hook – If that’s going to scare an entire division away in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, then shame on them. Fair play by Chimaev.”

What do you make of Khamzat Chimaev being restrained by security?

Continue Reading Watch: Khamzat Chimaev Restrained By Security At MMA Event at MMA News.

Faber to Swanson: We Might Have To See Who’s The King of California

Urijah Faber and Cub Swanson may be on a collision course in 2022 as the two veterans look to continue their respective UFC careers.

Faber hasn’t fought in the Octagon in a little over two years since his knockout loss to Petr Yan at UFC 245. It wa…

Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson

Urijah Faber and Cub Swanson may be on a collision course in 2022 as the two veterans look to continue their respective UFC careers.

Faber hasn’t fought in the Octagon in a little over two years since his knockout loss to Petr Yan at UFC 245. It was his second fight back in the cage after retiring in 2016.

Faber hasn’t ruled out continuing his combat sports career alongside his leadership at Team Alpha Male. One name who has been making the rounds is Swanson, who recently hinted at a potential fight with Faber in a throwback matchup.

During a recent post on his YouTube channel, Faber opined about a possible veteran vs. veteran matchup in the UFC.

“Honestly, I know he broke his hand, that might give me enough time to train,” Faber said. “He might drop down to 135 – we were supposed to fight back in 2004, with King of the Cage on short notice for a thousand bucks, I think they were gonna pay him a couple of hundred bucks and me a thousand bucks and that never happened, so Cubby, I’m honored that I’m your dream fight here in this scenario. So we might have to find out who the king of California is, I don’t know.”

Swanson most recently defeated Darren Elkins at UFC Vegas 45 and has won three of his last four bouts. His most recent defeat was to the rising featherweight contender Giga Chikadze, who finished him with a brutal body kick and ground-and-pound strikes.

Swanson first brought up the idea of facing Faber in late 2020, and conversations regarding the matchup have resurfaced in recent weeks.

It’s unclear if Swanson intends on moving down to 135 pounds at this stage in his career, but it has worked out well for fighters such as José Aldo. If Swanson wants to move down to bantamweight, Faber seems like a game opponent who could be ready to fight this year.

Would you be interested in a Urijah Faber vs. Cub Swanson matchup?

Continue Reading Faber to Swanson: We Might Have To See Who’s The King of California at MMA News.