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Tuivasa Enjoys Being On The Same Cards As “Showman” O’Malley

UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa fought at the same event as rising bantamweight star Sean O’Malley twice in 2021, a trend he hopes continues this year.

Like O’Malley, Tuivasa has been in fine form as of late. He’s built a destructive four-fig…

Sean O'Malley, Tai Tuivasa

UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa fought at the same event as rising bantamweight star Sean O’Malley twice in 2021, a trend he hopes continues this year.

Like O’Malley, Tuivasa has been in fine form as of late. He’s built a destructive four-fight win streak that has seen him climb to within one spot of the top 10 at heavyweight.

Since a submission loss to Sergey Spivak in 2019 added a third straight loss to his skid, “Bam Bam” has knocked out Stefan Struve, Harry Hunsucker, Greg Hardy, and Augusto Sakai.

His latest victory took place at UFC 269 last month. With another brutal finish, Tuivasa sent Sakai’s unconscious body to the canvas, before mounting the cage for one of his patented shoeys.

Tuivasa Appreciates The Presence Of O’Malley

Tuivasa’s other 2021 win, a first-round KO against Greg Hardy at UFC 264, provided another memorable moment inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with members of the crowd pouring their beers into their shoes and either chugging it themselves, or giving it to a victorious Tuivasa as he made his way to the back.

As well as two knockouts and two Octagon shoeys, another constant for Tuivasa’s 2021 was the presence of fellow entertainer Sean O’Malley. Like the Australian heavyweight, “Sugar” recorded triumphs at both UFC 264 and UFC 269.

Discussing O’Malley’s recent comments, in which he suggested Tuivasa is the only fighter universally loved by the UFC fanbase, “Bam Bam” said it’s great to share cards with a fellow “showman” like O’Malley.

“Yeah, me and Sean, we talk, and it’s good that we’ve been fighting on the same card the last few times,” Tuivasa told Ariel Helwani on a recent edition of The MMA Hour. “Like I say, he’s a showman as well, so it’s good we’re on the same card. We give the fans what they want.”

Tuivasa and O’Malley also took home 1/3 of the Performance of the Night bonuses for UFC 269. While “Bam Bam” collected a handsome extra $50,000 for his finish of Sakai, “Sugar” left the arena with his third successive bonus check in the bag for his KO of Raulian Paiva.

With their performances last year, both men achieved an impressive 100% bonus record. Out of their five combined appearances, The UFC dished out an additional $250,000. They’ll be hoping for similar success in 2022, and if they believe in lucky charms, both men will be pushing to be on the same card given their results in 2021.

Unless O’Malley is booked swiftly, Tuivasa will be making his first 2022 appearance on a card that will not feature “The Suga Show.” That is because, as of yesterday, it was revealed that Tuivasa will be facing another showman, Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis at UFC 271 next month.

Would you like to see Sean O’Malley and Tai Tuivasa fighting on the same card again this year?

Continue Reading Tuivasa Enjoys Being On The Same Cards As “Showman” O’Malley at MMA News.

Lewis Just Wants Fun & Pressure-Free Fights For The Rest Of His Career

UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis is hoping to avoid fights like the UFC 265 main event for the remainder of his career in the Octagon.

After falling to back-to-back losses versus then-champion Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Junior dos…

Derrick Lewis

UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis is hoping to avoid fights like the UFC 265 main event for the remainder of his career in the Octagon.

After falling to back-to-back losses versus then-champion Daniel Cormier and former titleholder Junior dos Santos, Lewis found the form of his life on the way back to the top of the division.

Between late 2019 and early 2021, “The Black Beast” secured victories over Blagoy Ivanov and Ilir Latifi on the scorecards and knocked out Alexei Oleinik and Curtis Blaydes with his devastatingly-powerful hands. That four-fight win streak cemented his spot as number-one contender, a status that was expected to see him challenge former opponent Francis Ngannou for the gold.

But with the UFC’s desire to have Lewis headline Houston’s UFC 265 pay-per-view, and the champion’s inability to make that date, Ciryl Gane was drafted in for a contest for the interim title. In an incredibly disappointing night in front of a home crowd, Lewis was comfortably controlled and beaten throughout, falling to a third-round TKO.

Four months later, he managed to right some of those wrongs with another brutal KO, this time against rising contender Chris Daukaus inside Las Vegas’ Apex facility at UFC Vegas 45.

Lewis: “I Don’t Have To Prove Anything”

For Lewis, it was a relief to return to the atmosphere and setting of a building he described as “perfect” for him. Not only did his December win, which saw him break the record for most KO triumphs in UFC history, provide an instant rebound from his August failing, but it made his future clearer.

During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lewis suggested he is finished with the high-intensity fight weeks and pressure-loaded matchups. For the rest of his career, he’s targeting fun and easy-going fights.

“This last fight helped me. (It was) a big experience difference, coming into this fight. I just really wanted to go into a fight week and not have pressure on myself, and it felt great. I plan on doing that for the rest of my career now. I can just go out there and just have fun. I feel like I don’t have to prove anything. That’s one of the reasons I wanna fight Stipe (Miocic) next.”

Discussing his experience leading up to his main event clash with Gane at UFC 265, Lewis admitted the pressure put on him was too much for him to handle. To put his nerves into perspective, “The Black Beast” revealed he’d even tried to acquire marijuana to calm him on fight day.

“I don’t wanna experience that ever again. It was too much pressure. To the point where I was really calling people up like, ‘Let me get some weed off you so I can relax my nerves,’ during fight day; that type of pressure. Never felt it that bad… It felt embarrassing.”

With his latest remarks, it seems like it’s victory dances, cup-throwing, and a laid-back attitude for Lewis moving forward. If that means more brutal KOs, not many fans will be complaining, that’s for sure.

Next, Lewis will begin putting his new fun-fight resolution into motion when he faces fellow fan-friendly banger Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa at UFC 271.

What other fights do you still want to see Derrick Lewis in before he departs MMA’s biggest stage?

Continue Reading Lewis Just Wants Fun & Pressure-Free Fights For The Rest Of His Career at MMA News.

Archives: Ben Askren Rips Covington For Trusting Dana White (2019)

The fact that Ben Askren had just signed with the UFC two months prior to this story did not prevent him from continuing to take shots at company president Dana White. In this story published three years ago, Askren addressed Colby Covington about why…

Colby Covington

The fact that Ben Askren had just signed with the UFC two months prior to this story did not prevent him from continuing to take shots at company president Dana White. In this story published three years ago, Askren addressed Colby Covington about why he was foolish for trusting White.

The following article is presented in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

On This Day Three Years Ago…

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 8, 2019, 12:45 PM]

Headline: Ben Askren Rips Colby Covington For Trusting Dana White

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

Ben Askren is getting a laugh out of Colby Covington’s current situation.

Covington is in a tough spot at the moment as he’s gone from interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight titleholder, to not even being next in line to challenge for Tyron Woodley’s gold. That honor went to Kamaru Usman, who will meet Woodley in the planned co-main event of UFC 235 on March 2.

Ben Askren Takes Another Dig At Colby Covington

Covington recently blasted UFC president Dana White, saying he went back on his word. “Chaos” also said White “ain’t got the balls” to fire him. Askren took to Twitter to rag on Covington:

“[Colby Covington] I realized you were dumb but please, please don’t tell me you were dumb enough to really trust Dana.”

Askren and Covington have been trading barbs ever since “Funky” signed with the UFC. Askren is set to make his promotional debut on the same card as Woodley vs. Usman. He’ll go one-on-one with former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight titleholder will go into the fight with some serious hype. Time will tell if he can live up to it on the brightest stage.

Do you think Colby Covington put too much trust into Dana White’s “promise?”

Continue Reading Archives: Ben Askren Rips Covington For Trusting Dana White (2019) at MMA News.

Watch: MMA Event Features Controversial Mismatch, Quick Knockout

Footage is circulating on social media of a physical mismatch that was somehow allowed to be featured at the Evolution of Combat 9 MMA event last September.

Critics came at the event organizers, along with Aron Leo, for appearing to attempt to pad …

Connor Knight, Aron Leo

Footage is circulating on social media of a physical mismatch that was somehow allowed to be featured at the Evolution of Combat 9 MMA event last September.

Critics came at the event organizers, along with Aron Leo, for appearing to attempt to pad records rather than fighting fair in the cage. Leo, who is just 3-0 in his career, held a distinct physical advantage over the much smaller Connor Knight at ECMMA 9.

UK MMA writer Harry Williams put out a recent tweet that showed how the exhibition bout arguably shouldn’t have been sanctioned in the first place.

Just seconds into the fight, Leo imposed his will on Knight, quickly dropping him with a big right hand followed up by some brutal ground-and-pound.

Here were some reactions to the viral video.

Aron Leo Went On To Earn Dominant Win Just Weeks Later

After earning the lopsided win over Knight, Leo went on to compete just weeks later at ECMMA 10, earning a quick submission victory over Robbie Dunlop to remain undefeated.

Unfortunately for Knight, he has yet to earn an amateur or professional win inside the cage. He had two scheduled amateur MMA fights canceled to wrap up 2021 against Ryan Southern and Brandon Jackson. Aside from the decisive defeat to Leo, he had lost in his pro kickboxing debut to Toby Preistley.

What is your reaction to this amateur MMA mismatch in Scotland?

Continue Reading Watch: MMA Event Features Controversial Mismatch, Quick Knockout at MMA News.

Kevin Lee Wants To Get Charles Oliveira Loss Back

New Eagle FC signing Kevin Lee hopes to one day have the opportunity to exact revenge on UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira.

The pair met in the main event of a Brazil-held UFC Fight Night in March 2020. It was the final card before the COVI…

Kevin Lee, UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira

New Eagle FC signing Kevin Lee hopes to one day have the opportunity to exact revenge on UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira.

The pair met in the main event of a Brazil-held UFC Fight Night in March 2020. It was the final card before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the UFC to shut down for a number of weeks.

Heading into the clash, Lee was riding high off the back of a memorable knockout of Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 four months prior. Oliveira, meanwhile, carried a six-fight win streak into the headline bout.

While he didn’t have the support of a home crowd behind him, Oliveira secured a submission victory that would have had the fans on their feet inside the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium, had it not been empty.

Despite a strong opening two rounds for Lee, the Brazilian’s ability on the ground was too much. “The Motown Phenom” tapped to a guillotine choke in the third frame.

Lee Envisions Future Revenge Against Oliveira

After that fight, Oliveira went on to dominate Tony Ferguson and win the vacant lightweight gold with a TKO victory over Michael Chandler soon after. Last month he defended the title against Dustin Poirier, whom many considered to be the best lightweight on the plant, cementing his spot on the 155-pound throne.

Meanwhile, Lee took an extended break from the sport. Upon his return in August 2021, he fell to a fourth defeat in five fights against top welterweight striker Daniel Rodriguez. That loss was followed by a six-month USADA suspensions and his release from the UFC.

While he’ll be focusing on returning to form when he debuts for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion this year, Lee still has one eye on the past. During an appearance on The Schmozone Podcast, “The Motown Phenom” admitted he wants to get his loss to Oliveira back.

“There’s a lot of things surrounding that fight. I want that fight back. We’ll see. We’ll make that happen in the future, at some point. I gotta prove I’m the best at ’65 first. And then, at some point, maybe we make that fight.”

Discussing what he’d have changed leading up to his defeat to “Do Bronx,” Lee suggested he should have taken more time after his KO win against Gillespie. According to the former interim title challenger, he was “talked” into returning so soon.

“(I’d have) took more time. Took more time, for sure. After I fought Gillespie, I needed some time off. I needed some time to let it sink in. Instead, I just rode the wave, and I was talked into riding the wave and going into the next fight.”

Lee went on to describe what went wrong prior to UFC Brasilia. As well as the quick turnaround, the 28-year-old cited his first winter in Canada at the Tristar gym, travel, and the fact he underestimated Oliveira as reasons behind the devastating loss.

“That moment (the Gillespie KO) was so big, that I knew I had to let it sink in. It was my first real camp with Firas (Zahabi). So I felt like we learned a lot about each other. I was just trying to get my feet underneath me in Canada and in Montreal, but then I had to go back home to kinda handle some stuff here in Vegas. Then I took that fight and it was right back into it. It was right back to Canada, in the middle of winter; it had been six or seven years since I had dealt with the winter. That’s another layer on top of it.

“It was a lot to deal with. On top of that, they flew me to Brazil on one day, and then back; all this happened within a five-week span of getting ready to fight someone like Oliveira. I think part of it was I underestimated Oliveira until mid-way through the second round. Then I was like, ‘This dude’s legit, fuck.'”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXgsHVpJkL5/

If he’s to make his way back to a clash with the reigning 155-pound UFC titleholder, Lee will have to make a splash in the rising Eagle FC promotion. Having finally been given the chance to show his talents at 165 pounds, “The Motown Phenom” must prove his claim to be the best at that weight to be true.

If he can find success in the coming months and years, starting with his likely debut against Diego Sanchez in March, perhaps we’ll see Lee get the chance for redemption against Oliveira before his career is done.

How do you think Kevin Lee would fare in a rematch against UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira?

Continue Reading Kevin Lee Wants To Get Charles Oliveira Loss Back at MMA News.

Junior dos Santos Reassures Concerned Fans Before Boxing Debut

Junior dos Santos is ecstatic to get in the ring with vicious European boxer Kubrat Pulev for his debut boxing match.

Although the former UFC heavyweight champion dos Santos ended his contract with the UFC on a four-fight loss streak in March 202…

Junior Dos Santos

Junior dos Santos is ecstatic to get in the ring with vicious European boxer Kubrat Pulev for his debut boxing match.

Although the former UFC heavyweight champion dos Santos ended his contract with the UFC on a four-fight loss streak in March 2021, his love for the sport of fighting remains intact.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

However, fans of Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos are worried the fighter might be biting off a bit more than he can chew. His very first opponent, Kubrat “Cobra” Pulev, holds a professional boxing record of 28 wins and 2 losses, was the European heavyweight champion twice between 2012 and 2016, and recently destroyed mixed martial artist Frank Mir by first-round TKO at the first Triller Triad event.

In a recent interview with ESPN, dos Santos expressed his gratitude for the fans’ concern but has a message for them:

“Well, for all of those, I (know there will be) some bad comments but also some comments coming from people that believe in me and support me. And like you said, they will be worried about me, you know? But I appreciate that. Thank you for the comments and for the worry. But you know what? This time, I took to myself and to my family to think about everything, decide what to do. Man, I’m 37 years old now, and I was feeling like—I was thinking about stopping. Maybe it’s not for me anymore. But that’s not my truth.”

Despite the defeats and controversial departure from the UFC, “Cigano” is happy and doing what he loves. Now that the spark of joy is once again within him, we could see an improved version of dos Santos when he steps in the ring.

Goodbye UFC, Hello Triller Triad

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The end of February marks the beginning of Junior dos Santos’ boxing career with Triller at Triad Combat II.

dos Santos wants fans to understand that his exit from the UFC was crucial. The fighter blames the promotion’s “unprofessionalism” for hindering his success within the platform but does not allow the situation to negatively impact his goals.

“My truth is I love this thing, and I still can do it. I’m 37 years old, like I said. If you go to the gym and see me training, man, I’m getting better, with some great skills every time. So the moments I was going through right now in the UFC, that’s not me. This fight now will show all those people, all the people that support or those who doesn’t support, this fight will show everybody who I am for real,” he continued in the interview with ESPN.

Lest we forget dos Santos has wins against Derrick Lewis and Stipe Miocic, two renowned names in the heavyweight division, in his MMA career. Now, it will be former heavyweight champion vs former heavyweight champion when dos Santos’ boxing debut commences.

Are you excited to see Junior dos Santos’ boxing debut?

Continue Reading Junior dos Santos Reassures Concerned Fans Before Boxing Debut at MMA News.