Former IBF champ Ebanie Bridges criticizes Khabib Nurmagomedov following ‘useless’ ring girl remark

KhabibEbanie Bridges has responded to former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments surrounding the ‘useless’ ring girls used in combat sports. Since retiring from the sport Khabib has gone on to run his promotion in Eagle FC and therefore it should not come as a surprise that Khabib does not use ring girls in his […]

Khabib

Ebanie Bridges has responded to former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments surrounding the ‘useless’ ring girls used in combat sports.

Since retiring from the sport Khabib has gone on to run his promotion in Eagle FC and therefore it should not come as a surprise that Khabib does not use ring girls in his promotion. Khabib’s opinion has come under fire from many people involved in combat sports after he questioned the need for them to be involved.

“I don’t want to offend anyone, ring girls are the most useless people in martial arts. What is their function? I have a question, you can show it is the second round that is on the screen.

“There are people who understand martial arts and they are walking. This is my personal opinion Do they develop the sport? Or they help people to see it is the second round now? I realize that it is a history. History knows many mistakes. We read history to avoid mistakes of the past in the future. If we look in the history it says they are useless. That is my personal opinion.” (H/T The Mirror).

Disagreeing with the comments made by Khabib, Ebanie Bridges, who is a former ring girl herself responded to the former UFC lightweight champion’s remarks, reminding those who may share the same sentiment that the girls in these roles are there because they simply love what they do.

Ebanie Bridges defends ring girls following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments

Taking the time to speak on Pub Talk, Bridges reminisced on her own experiences as a ring girl and how she felt it was unnecessary to try and take away these roles from the people who are involved.

“I was a ring girl. I love combat sports, I grew up with it, so for me to be at the fights, I loved it. I got paid mad money, probably more than some of the fighters to sit ringside.

“I’d be walking around in a G-string – they don’t do the G-strings these days but back in my heyday, that’s how we used to do it. Why are people who aren’t us, trying to take our jobs away from us? We love it, I loved being a ring girl. I don’t think it’s useless. I loved being part of the entertainment, being paid to watch those fights.”

“You’ve got people saying it is sexist, it’s objectifying. Maybe I want to be objectified. Maybe I want to make money, don’t make my mind up for me. You can’t have boxing without the ring girls.” (Transcribed by Mirror)

Ebanie Bridges is not the only person to come to the defense of ring girls being involved in combat sports. UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko shared the same opinion as Bridges and referenced their involvement throughout the history of combat sports and the value they bring.

Although you should not expect to see ring girls being involved at Eagle FC events the rest of the combat sports community still clearly those individuals and the job they do as a vast majority of major combat sports promotions still have these types of positions in place.

What do you make of Khabib’s comments?

Former IBF champ Ebanie Bridges criticizes Khabib Nurmagomedov following ‘useless’ ring girl remark

KhabibEbanie Bridges has responded to former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments surrounding the ‘useless’ ring girls used in combat sports. Since retiring from the sport Khabib has gone on to run his promotion in Eagle FC and therefore it should not come as a surprise that Khabib does not use ring girls in his […]

Khabib

Ebanie Bridges has responded to former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments surrounding the ‘useless’ ring girls used in combat sports.

Since retiring from the sport Khabib has gone on to run his promotion in Eagle FC and therefore it should not come as a surprise that Khabib does not use ring girls in his promotion. Khabib’s opinion has come under fire from many people involved in combat sports after he questioned the need for them to be involved.

“I don’t want to offend anyone, ring girls are the most useless people in martial arts. What is their function? I have a question, you can show it is the second round that is on the screen.

“There are people who understand martial arts and they are walking. This is my personal opinion Do they develop the sport? Or they help people to see it is the second round now? I realize that it is a history. History knows many mistakes. We read history to avoid mistakes of the past in the future. If we look in the history it says they are useless. That is my personal opinion.” (H/T The Mirror).

Disagreeing with the comments made by Khabib, Ebanie Bridges, who is a former ring girl herself responded to the former UFC lightweight champion’s remarks, reminding those who may share the same sentiment that the girls in these roles are there because they simply love what they do.

Ebanie Bridges defends ring girls following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments

Taking the time to speak on Pub Talk, Bridges reminisced on her own experiences as a ring girl and how she felt it was unnecessary to try and take away these roles from the people who are involved.

“I was a ring girl. I love combat sports, I grew up with it, so for me to be at the fights, I loved it. I got paid mad money, probably more than some of the fighters to sit ringside.

“I’d be walking around in a G-string – they don’t do the G-strings these days but back in my heyday, that’s how we used to do it. Why are people who aren’t us, trying to take our jobs away from us? We love it, I loved being a ring girl. I don’t think it’s useless. I loved being part of the entertainment, being paid to watch those fights.”

“You’ve got people saying it is sexist, it’s objectifying. Maybe I want to be objectified. Maybe I want to make money, don’t make my mind up for me. You can’t have boxing without the ring girls.” (Transcribed by Mirror)

Ebanie Bridges is not the only person to come to the defense of ring girls being involved in combat sports. UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko shared the same opinion as Bridges and referenced their involvement throughout the history of combat sports and the value they bring.

Although you should not expect to see ring girls being involved at Eagle FC events the rest of the combat sports community still clearly those individuals and the job they do as a vast majority of major combat sports promotions still have these types of positions in place.

What do you make of Khabib’s comments?

Dana White reflects on the original UFC 279 main event: ‘That wouldn’t have been good.’

Dana WhiteDana White has admitted that the initial main event matchup involving Khamzat Chimaev, and Nate Diaz at UFC 279 would have ended poorly had it gone ahead. Most MMA followers knew what the script was when the matchup was first announced to headline the UFC 279 card. Chimaev was expected to come in and destroy […]

Dana White

Dana White has admitted that the initial main event matchup involving Khamzat Chimaev, and Nate Diaz at UFC 279 would have ended poorly had it gone ahead.

Most MMA followers knew what the script was when the matchup was first announced to headline the UFC 279 card. Chimaev was expected to come in and destroy Diaz dampening the value behind the legend who had provided fans with many memorable moments during his UFC tenure.

Thankfully, this was not the case. Chimaev would ultimately miss weight by a staggering 7.5 pounds resulting in a reshuffling of the card allowing Nate Diaz to face fellow veteran, Tony Ferguson, in a much more fitting main event. In what many believed was an incident that saw the quality of the card improve even UFC president Dana White is beginning to share that sentiment.

Dana White speaks on the reality of what could have been with Nate Diaz vs Khamzat Chimaev

Speaking on The Action Junkeez Podcast, White admitted just how badly the original matchup for Diaz would have played out had it gone ahead.

“After you watch the fight, you realize Khamzat vs. Nate Diaz would have been f****** — that wouldn’t have been good. Khamzat, I know the fans got pissed at him for not making weight and everything else, but Jesus f****** Christ. What he went out and did to Kevin Holland — did you see Kevin Holland post the picture the other day that his eyes were all red from the f****** choke? I mean, holy s***.” Dana White said.

Chimaev has been able to steamroll his way through nearly all of his opponents since joining the promotion and given where the two men are at in their respective careers, you could have been fairly certain he would have continued this trend with Diaz.

Instead, the reshuffle saw Chimaev take on the rejuvenated Kevin Holland who had picked up two victories since dropping into the welterweight division. Despite now facing a tougher test in Holland, Chimaev was able to show his dominance and dispatch his opponent inside the first round. Now whilst many people expected ‘Borz’ to emerge victorious Dana White has shut down claims that people expected him to do it in such spectacular fashion.

“[People were saying,] ‘Yeah, that’s what I expected.’ No, you f****** didn’t,” White said. “If you really are honest in saying that you expected Khamzat to f****** destroy Kevin Holland, you’re lying. There’s just no way. Kevin Holland is a bad motherf*****.” (Transcribed by MMAFighting)

It is uncertain where Chimaev’s future will lie after he posted on his social media all but confirming his entry into the middleweight division, but it is almost certain wherever he ends up you can expect him to provide the same level of entertainment.

Do you agree with Dana White’s comments on the originally scheduled UFC 279 main event?

Charles Oliveira’s coach credits UFC 280 opponent Islam Makhachev’s wrestling: ‘He is even better than Khabib’

Charles OliveiraAlireza Noei has claimed that his student Charles Oliveira will face a tougher test in Islam Makhachev, who he says possesses a better wrestling ability than former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. UFC 280 is in contention to be one of if not the best event of this year. Stacked from bottom to top the […]

Charles Oliveira

Alireza Noei has claimed that his student Charles Oliveira will face a tougher test in Islam Makhachev, who he says possesses a better wrestling ability than former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

UFC 280 is in contention to be one of if not the best event of this year. Stacked from bottom to top the main event will see two dominant competitors compete for the currently vacant UFC lightweight title. Charles Oliveira will have the chance to regain his lightweight title when he takes on the man who many predicted to be the next champion following Khabib, Islam Makhachev.

Ahead of their highly anticipated matchup, Alireza Noei, coach of Charles Oliveira has claimed that his students’ next opponent is a better wrestler than the aforementioned Nurmagomedov.

Charles Oliveira’s coach believes Islam Makhachev is a better wrestler than Khabib

Speaking in an interview with PVT, Noei has stated his belief that Makhachev is a better wrestler than Khabib given that it is not the former undefeated champion’s first discipline.

“Let’s begin with the wrestling of Dagestan, Russian wrestling, 80% of wrestling of Russia comes from there. The Japanese wrestling that is called judo is also, you can ask the Judokas, Dagestan has really good Judokas,” Noei said.

“World champions, Olympic champions, just like the wrestlers. Everyone from Dagestan knows wrestling. For example here in Brazil almost half of the people know wrestling but in Dagestan, almost 100% know it, girls, women, men, everyone knows it. Even someone that doesn’t fight knows wrestling at least knows two or three wrestling coaches. Dagestan is a pool of wrestling.

Charles‘s adversary Islam Makhachev is very good at wrestling. I think even better than Khabib who is another athlete from Dagestan. He is better, certainly, of course, because he is a wrestler Khabib isn’t. Khabib is a Sambo fighter Islam has also done Sambo but he is a wrestler first and then a Sambo fighter and then an MMA fighter.” (Transcribed by MiddleEasy)

There is not long left to wait now with UFC 280 less than a month away. Will Islam Makhachev fulfill his full potential and follow on in Khabib’s legacy or will Charles Oliveira make good on his word and regain his spot at the top of the division?

Who will emerge victorious in the main event of UFC 280?

Khamzat Chimaev appears to confirm a move to the middleweight division

Khamzat ChimaevThe undefeated contender, Khamzat Chimaev, has taken to social media to announce what appears to be confirmation of his move up to the middleweight division. Following on from the fallout which occurred at UFC 279 speculation surrounded whether Khamzat Chimaev was able to consistently make the cut to compete in the welterweight division. His botched […]

Khamzat Chimaev

The undefeated contender, Khamzat Chimaev, has taken to social media to announce what appears to be confirmation of his move up to the middleweight division.

Following on from the fallout which occurred at UFC 279 speculation surrounded whether Khamzat Chimaev was able to consistently make the cut to compete in the welterweight division. His botched weight cut resulted in a card reshuffle and him losing out on his main event slot against the then departing Nate Diaz.

It now seems that this issue may not be of concern anymore as Chimaev posted on social media all but confirming an entry into the 185-pound division.

Given the need for new title challengers within the division this seems to be a smart decision made by Chimaev, and who is to say that he could not return to the welterweight division later in his career?

Potential fights to make for Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight

If Khamzat Chimaev is looking to make the middleweight division his new home, who should be the first person to welcome him to the division? Let us look.

An obvious match to make would be against none other than Paulo Costa. One of the elite competitors within the division and given the two men have already had an exchange both on social media and during fight week ahead of UFC 279 a matchup between this pair would be highly anticipated.

Another route for Chimaev to earn himself a shot at the champion in his new division could be through Robert Whittaker. Despite showing a disinterest against facing ‘The Reaper’ having preferred to train with him, taking out the clearly well-established number one contender in the division would all but guarantee Chimaev a shot at the belt.

While both matchups would make sense for him, what is to say he will not be thrown straight into the title picture? If Israel Adesanya can defeat Alex Pereira at UFC 281 the champion will be in desperate need of new challenges and stylistically Chimaev may possess all the tools necessary to give him his toughest test to date.

Who would you like to see Chimaev face in his middleweight debut?

Reza Madadi defends teammate Khamzat Chimaev following UFC 279 weight miss criticism from Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khamzat ChimaevReza Madadi, a teammate of Khamzat Chimaev has come to the defence of the Swedish fighter after he was criticized by Khabib Nurmagomedov following his UFC 279 weight miss. Opinions were divided on Khamzat Chimaev after he was withdrawn from his main event slot at UFC 279 due to missing the welterweight limit by 7.5 […]

Khamzat Chimaev

Reza Madadi, a teammate of Khamzat Chimaev has come to the defence of the Swedish fighter after he was criticized by Khabib Nurmagomedov following his UFC 279 weight miss.

Opinions were divided on Khamzat Chimaev after he was withdrawn from his main event slot at UFC 279 due to missing the welterweight limit by 7.5 pounds. Chimaev ultimately was rescheduled and put on a display of excellence to overcome Kevin Holland but that still did not stop comments from being made regarding his mistake.

 One man who shared his opinion was none other than the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov who believes external factors outside of the octagon as well as not having the right supporting entourage could have had a significant effect on Khamzat Chimaev.

Nurmagomedov who himself had missed weight on numerous occasions throughout his career was quick to point out the error Chimaev had made and whilst many agreed with the former undefeated lightweight champion, there were some who disagreed with his comments.

After hearing what was said Reza Madadi came to the defence of his teammate Khamzat Chimaev, whilst being respectful to Khabib’s achievements and the way he conducts himself, Madadi simply disagreed with what ‘The Eagle’ had to say.

Khamzat Chimaev’s teammate responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s criticism

“Dear @khabib_nurmagomedov , my muslim brother.

Firstly I would like say I have a huge respect for you as an athlete and for all your achievements in our beloved sport of MMA. I am also very proud of how you represent our religion, belief and God in all your interviews and appearances.

But, I would like to give my point on your opinion on @khamzat_chimaev not having a muslim team around him and that was supposed to be the reason of him missing the weight. I have to disagree with you on this part.

Not only have Khamzat had muslim friends and teammates such as me around him from day 1, but also from many other religions and backgrounds, The have been people that have been with him from the start, giving him love, sharing blood, sweat and joy and done everything to bring him to where he is now.

Being a muslim doesn’t mean we are perfect and flawless, trust me, I have done many mistakes in my life as many people know, with all due respect, so have you.

So mentioning having muslim team will make you perfect, I have to disagree, having a team that cares about you. in good times and bad times, no matter what belief or religion they have is far more important. And that is something Khamzat has.

There are several issues that made Khamzat miss the weight but those reasons stay in the team. But he is still young and he will learn from his mistakes.

If a big Champion like you, did learn from your mistake when you missed weight, I have no doubt that our brother Khamzat will do as well.”

Questions now surround what weight class Khamzat Chimaev will compete in with many suggesting the undefeated prospect should consider making the move up to middleweight.

Do you agree with the comments Reza Madadi has made?