Tag: KO

Anthony Johnson Talks UFC Return At BKFC 12 Press Conference

Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is finally making his return to the UFC octagon after over three years away, despite how he feels about fighters not knowing when to walk away. The former two-time UFC light-heavyweight title challenger retired after his second defeat to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in April of 2017. Since retiring, Johnson began […]

Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is finally making his return to the UFC octagon after over three years away, despite how he feels about fighters not knowing when to walk away. The former two-time UFC light-heavyweight title challenger retired after his second defeat to Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in April of 2017.

Since retiring, Johnson began bodybuilding, and not long after became an ambassador for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). But now he’s got the itch again, and at 36-years-old, he doesn’t have much time left to make a comeback. More or less, now’s the perfect time.

The one very unfortunate thing about this however, Jon Jones announced he’s vacating his UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship, and that’s one dream fight we never got to see.

‘Rumble’ was supposed to face Jones for the title at UFC 187 in May of 2015, but this was one of the many times Jones got suspended, and he ended up facing Daniel Cormier instead. We’ve seen twice that Cormier’s the better man, but he’s not around anymore either, and Johnson’s the scariest light-heavyweight this sport has seen.

That doesn’t mean he’s the most technical or best fighter out there, but the pure raw power he possesses is truly scary. Of his 22 wins, he has 16 knockouts and six decisions, and ten of those knockout wins were KO’s. Better yet, he went 6-2 in his recent return to the UFC and scored five knockouts with four KO’s then, with the only TKO being over Alexander Gustafsson.

His manager, Ali Abdelaziz announced that he’s back in the USADA testing pool, which means he’ll be eligible to compete soon.

If he can come back at his best, it’s going to be incredibly exciting to see what happens, the 205 lb division is thriving beautifully right now. When asked at the BKFC 12 press conference earlier today why now is the right time to return to the UFC, ‘Rumble’ had the following to say on the matter:

“Honestly, I missed the sport, you know what I mean? I missed the sport, I miss competing. So I knew at one point, I was against guys coming back from retirement. You know, you usually see them get mopped up. You know, BJ Penn came back and got mopped up. I’ve seen everybody that came back out of retirement get mopped up.

“I just don’t wanna be one of those guys that gets mopped up, but I still feel good, I have no injuries. While I was in the UFC, I didn’t really get hit much unless I lost, and that wasn’t often. But, you never know. You know, I got a couple more fights on my contract with the UFC, and then after that you know, I may fight for Dave (Feldman).”

Who would you like to see ‘Rumble’ fight upon returning to the octagon?

Pic: Dana White Claps Back At Khabib’s IG Callout

UFC President Dana White is often accused of being a lot of things. One thing you can’t deny he has is a sense of humor. The polarizing UFC executive is currently dealing with the aftermath of the infamous UFC 229 brawl from Las Vegas. Last Saturday (Oct. 6, 2018), UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped […]

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UFC President Dana White is often accused of being a lot of things. One thing you can’t deny he has is a sense of humor.

The polarizing UFC executive is currently dealing with the aftermath of the infamous UFC 229 brawl from Las Vegas. Last Saturday (Oct. 6, 2018), UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped into the crowd to fight Conor McGregor’ teammate Dillon Danis.

The outburst came seconds after he submitted the Irish star in the fourth round of their anticipated grudge match. Now, the MMA universe awaits his punishment. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) withheld Khabib’s $2,000,000 purse for the fight. He and McGregor are facing complaints from the commission. They’ve also been temporarily suspended due to the incident. Khabib could even have his belt stripped. Indeed, there are a few real reasons why he could be.

The scene was one of pure madness. White chose to not put the belt on Khabib as a result. He feared the crowd would pelt his champion with whatever rubbish they had close at hand. He was probably right. White believes the NSAC shouldn’t keep his whole purse and should only fine and suspend his star.

The backlash on Khabib has been a mixed one. Khabib’s historically tough father, Abdulmanap, promised to “punish Khabib tougher than the UFC.” Meanwhile, he forgave McGregor because of his religious background.

Through it all, the normally cold and stoic Khabib has a sense of humor as well. He called out White on Instagram with a joke that he would have smashed his expensive sports car had he not given him the belt.

To that, White offered a hilarious response. Check it out here:

 

 

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UFC Champion Calls Out Khabib In Viral Tweet

There has been a never-ending string of opinions in the wake of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ill-timed brawl following his UFC 229 main event win over Conor McGregor. The UFC’s biggest-ever pay-per-view event last Saturday (Oct. 6, 2018) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, was supposed to be ‘The Eagle’s’ crowning achievement. In one way […]

The post UFC Champion Calls Out Khabib In Viral Tweet appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

There has been a never-ending string of opinions in the wake of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ill-timed brawl following his UFC 229 main event win over Conor McGregor.

The UFC’s biggest-ever pay-per-view event last Saturday (Oct. 6, 2018) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, was supposed to be ‘The Eagle’s’ crowning achievement. In one way it was, as he submitted former two-division champion McGregor. However, that potentially historic win was marred by his actions shortly thereafter.

Khabib leaped into the crowd to fight McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis, inciting a wildfire of violence. Three of Khabib’s teammates then scaled the cage and assaulted the Irish superstar. The bad blood definitely stems from McGregor’s infamous Brooklyn bus attack, and that’s understandable.

However, UFC 229 provided the stoic Khabib with the opportunity to shut McGregor up in the Octagon. He did that. But his normally soft-spoken style was uprooted by his actions. One UFC champion believes Khabib should not have allowed McGregor’s disrespect to change his own actions.

That man is middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. “Bobby Knuckles” sent a well-liked tweet Khabib’s way containing a deep quote about respect:

A Good Point

The 185-pound ruler has a good point. Nurmagomedov spent the majority of the build-up to UFC 229 keeping his mouth shut even though he probably wanted to explode inside.

Khabib accomplished his ultimate goal and dominated McGregor from pillar to post. There was no need to stoop to his level and commit outside-the-cage violence. The commission presiding over UFC 229 is not impressed and admitted that in a recent statement.

Khabib and McGregor will both face a complaint from the NSAC for their parts in the melee. The champion’s situation seems to be a bit more dire as the commission withheld his purse. Dana White doesn’t believe the NSAC should keep his whole $2,000,000 or strip him of the title. Khabib’s punishment is very much up in the air.

He’s soared up the UFC pound-for-pound rankings in the meantime.

The post UFC Champion Calls Out Khabib In Viral Tweet appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Coach Reveals What Dillon Danis Said To Start Khabib Brawl

Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to face punishment for starting an insane brawl following his main event win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229. There’s no denial from the UFC, fans, and media that the brawl was anything but dangerous. It was also the kind of high drama that MMA fans live for. Khabib leaping into […]

The post Coach Reveals What Dillon Danis Said To Start Khabib Brawl appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to face punishment for starting an insane brawl following his main event win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229. There’s no denial from the UFC, fans, and media that the brawl was anything but dangerous.

It was also the kind of high drama that MMA fans live for.

Khabib leaping into the crowd to take on McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis was the perfect extension of their pre-installed bad blood. That dates back to McGregor’s infamous Brooklyn bus attack this spring.

Khabib and McGregor will both appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) in November. ‘The Eagle’s’ purse is being withheld in the meantime.

But in a somewhat odd set of circumstances, McGregor’s longtime head coach John Kavanagh hopes Khabib isn’t punished much. He discussed the brawl on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast (via MMA Fighting) today. Kavanagh can understand Khabib’s point of view for the attack.

He can’t side with his teammates who attacked McGregor, however:

“I hope [The Nevada State Athletic Commission] is lenient on [Nurmagomedov]. Not just so we can get a rematch. I just love watching him fight. I can stretch myself to understand his reaction, I can’t stretch myself to understand [his teammates] reaction. For Khabib, it’s not the end of the world.”

What Did Danis Do?

The SBG Ireland coach then dove into detail about just what Danis said to set Khabib off. In his words, Danis didn’t say anything. He did apparently motion to Khabib, however, yet Kavanagh didn’t believe it deserved the level of response it got:

“[Danis] actually didn’t say anything. I was standing beside Dillon. I didn’t see what he did but I could hear. He didn’t say anything. When I watched it back I could see him beckon [Nurmagomedov] on. It’s just stupid end of fight stuff.

“But it didn’t justify that level of response. Maybe there was something else in the build up. Dillon is a little bit of trouble online. But, like I said, it wasn’t that big of a deal to me what Khabib did. It just really wasn’t.”

Kavanagh’s taking a rather nonchalant approach to the whole scene. It echoes Khabib’s own response that played down the brawl down. He may understand where Khabib is coming from after the bus attack and endless personal insults in the lead-up to the fight. No one could blame him if that was the case.

So what Khabib did wasn’t a big deal to him. It was much more concerning what Khabib’s teammates did to a tired McGregor. Kavanagh insisted that an actual crime of assault:

“Like I said, if Khabib had done that isolated, I didn’t think it was a big deal,” said Kavanagh. “He didn’t really hit Dillon. There was a bit of pushing and pulling.

“Who cares?

“But a man coming up, a trained fighter with bare knuckles, hitting a guy who’s tired, who’s taken some rounds and taking some shots, there has to be ramifications for that. An example has to be made….It’s criminal. It’s assault.”

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Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor

The lasting consequences of the all-out brawl following the UFC 229 main event are still in motion. It won’t help things that a fighter involved is boasting about assaulting Conor McGregor. Suspended UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov, one of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammates who allegedly stormed the Octagon and assaulted McGregor at UFC 229, is happy with […]

The post Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The lasting consequences of the all-out brawl following the UFC 229 main event are still in motion. It won’t help things that a fighter involved is boasting about assaulting Conor McGregor.

Suspended UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov, one of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammates who allegedly stormed the Octagon and assaulted McGregor at UFC 229, is happy with his actions.

Tukhugov took to social media this weekend to boast about how he had ‘slapped McGregor as promised’ (via Karim Zidan):

“I slapped him as promised,” said Tukhugov. “I promised to make him answer for his words and I did.”

The rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s teams obviously runs deep. It had been brewing for years. But it was taken to a new level when McGregor and members of his clan were arrested for their now-infamous Brooklyn bus assault last April. McGregor took several shots at Khabib’s family and country in the lead-up to UFC 229. That only heightened the bad blood.

But Tukhugov has never really even been mentioned. This is probably the most press he’s ever got and ever will get. It’s for a disgusting reason as well.

Tukhugov’s In Trouble

As for Tukhugov, he was supposedly one of the men arrested for the brawl. Those charges disappeared when McGregor refused to pursue them, however. Still, White wouldn’t let them off the hook. He claimed all of Khabib’s teammates who assaulted McGregor were done fighting for the UFC:

Of course, of course. The guys who jumped in will never fight here. They’ll never fight here. Listen, I’ve been working hard for 18 years to build this sport.”

Tukhugov has been out of action since May 2016. He has been serving a USADA suspension for testing positive for banned substance ostarine. Coupled with White’s words, that’s a lot of bans to go around.

The Dagestani competitor is scheduled to face McGregor’s good friend and longtime teammate Artem Lobov at October 27’s UFC Moncton. The fight is still listed on the UFC’s schedule as of now.

McGregor seems to think his side ‘won the battle’ at UFC 229, and this beef is far from over. It could legitimately go down as one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history.

Tukhugov appears proud that he broke the law and snuck up on McGregor at UFC 229, but he may have paid for it with his job.

The post Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor

The lasting consequences of the all-out brawl following the UFC 229 main event are still in motion. It won’t help things that a fighter involved is boasting about assaulting Conor McGregor. Suspended UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov, one of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammates who allegedly stormed the Octagon and assaulted McGregor at UFC 229, is happy with […]

The post Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The lasting consequences of the all-out brawl following the UFC 229 main event are still in motion. It won’t help things that a fighter involved is boasting about assaulting Conor McGregor.

Suspended UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov, one of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammates who allegedly stormed the Octagon and assaulted McGregor at UFC 229, is happy with his actions.

Tukhugov took to social media this weekend to boast about how he had ‘slapped McGregor as promised’ (via Karim Zidan):

“I slapped him as promised,” said Tukhugov. “I promised to make him answer for his words and I did.”

The rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s teams obviously runs deep. It had been brewing for years. But it was taken to a new level when McGregor and members of his clan were arrested for their now-infamous Brooklyn bus assault last April. McGregor took several shots at Khabib’s family and country in the lead-up to UFC 229. That only heightened the bad blood.

But Tukhugov has never really even been mentioned. This is probably the most press he’s ever got and ever will get. It’s for a disgusting reason as well.

Tukhugov’s In Trouble

As for Tukhugov, he was supposedly one of the men arrested for the brawl. Those charges disappeared when McGregor refused to pursue them, however. Still, White wouldn’t let them off the hook. He claimed all of Khabib’s teammates who assaulted McGregor were done fighting for the UFC:

Of course, of course. The guys who jumped in will never fight here. They’ll never fight here. Listen, I’ve been working hard for 18 years to build this sport.”

Tukhugov has been out of action since May 2016. He has been serving a USADA suspension for testing positive for banned substance ostarine. Coupled with White’s words, that’s a lot of bans to go around.

The Dagestani competitor is scheduled to face McGregor’s good friend and longtime teammate Artem Lobov at October 27’s UFC Moncton. The fight is still listed on the UFC’s schedule as of now.

McGregor seems to think his side ‘won the battle’ at UFC 229, and this beef is far from over. It could legitimately go down as one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history.

Tukhugov appears proud that he broke the law and snuck up on McGregor at UFC 229, but he may have paid for it with his job.

The post Banned UFC Fighter Boasts About Assaulting Conor McGregor appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.