Joe Rogan set to miss UFC 301 card in Brazil, Paul Felder drafts in for South America fighting return

Joe Rogan set to miss UFC 301 card in Brazil as Paul Felder makes trip for South America fight cardEnjoying a rather long-strecth in the commentary booth as of recent times, with the promotion’s venture outside of North…

Joe Rogan set to miss UFC 301 card in Brazil as Paul Felder makes trip for South America fight card

Enjoying a rather long-strecth in the commentary booth as of recent times, with the promotion’s venture outside of North America this weekend for UFC 301 – veteran color-commentator, Joe Rogan will sit out Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Rio de Janeiro, with former lightweight contender, Paul Felder calling the action.

UFC 301, which takes place this weekend at the Farmasi Arena, hosts an undisputed flyweight championship headliner, with defending gold holder, Alexandre Pantoja returning to home soil since landing in the Dana White-led promotion

Alexandre Pantoja

Hoping to upset the apple cart and the home fans’ night, Australian contender, Steve Erceg looks to follow in the footsteps of fellow Oceanic champions, Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Alexander Volkanovski and strike Octagon gold – just four fights deep into his promotional run.

The co-main event also appeals massively to fans globally – but particularly in Brazil, with former featherweight champion, Jose Aldo making his return from an almost two-year retirement, as he draws the surging Jonathan Martinez in a makeshift bout.

Joe Rogan UFC 300 Zuffa LLC
Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

Joe Rogan misses UFC 301 card in Brazil

And with Joe Rogan electing against travelling to Rio, the above-mentioned, Felder drafts in his place, joining play-by-play lead, Jon Anik – as well as former two-weight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Daniel Cormier.

As reported by MMA Fighting, Kayrn Bryant also returns as the event’s in-house reporter, and will handle interviews backstage during the Rio de Janeiro card. 

Jose Aldo boxing Shooto Brazil 2 win
Mandatory Credit: Marcell Fagundes – Shooto Boxing

UFC 301 marks the promotion’s return to Brazil for the first time since last November’s ‘Fight Night’ billed card in Sao Paulo, with Jailton Almeida turning in a one-sided unanimous decision victory over former title challenger, Derrick Lewis. 

The promotion’s most recent event in Rio came in the form of UFC 283 in January of last year, which saw former champion, Glover Teixeira bow out of the sport following a unanimous decision defeat to recent UFC 300 main event star, Jamahal Hill in the pair’s vacant light heavyweight title fight. 

Would you have liked to see Joe Rogan call the action at UFC 301 in Rio

4 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Night 234

Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 card in Las Vegas was the MMA promotion’s first of 2024, and it’s fair to say it was a great way to start the year. The card…

Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 234 card in Las Vegas was the MMA promotion’s first of 2024, and it’s fair to say it was a great way to start the year. The card…

Jim Miller prefers UFC 300 fight with veteran Matt Brown: ‘Let’s put on a show, let’s go out and entertain’

Jim Miller prefers fight with Matt Brown at UFC 300 let's go put on a showAfter a dominant win over Gabriel Benitez, Jim Miller had his eyes on the future and called for a…

Jim Miller prefers fight with Matt Brown at UFC 300 let's go put on a show

After a dominant win over Gabriel Benitez, Jim Miller had his eyes on the future and called for a fight with Paul Felder or Matt Brown at UFC 300.

Jim Miller is a legend of the sport, and in the twilight of his career, he’s been utterly dominating the competition and is 5-1 in his last six fights. At UFC Vegas 84 he continued his winning ways, and let fans everywhere know that he’s not ready to call a quits on fighting just yet,

In the cage after his victory, he primarily called out Paul Felder, who is a retired fighter who now works full-time for the UFC as a broadcaster. Felder was working cage side when the callout was delivered, and seemed very willing to come back for one more fight, for a battle between legends.

Jim Miller Admits at Post Fight Press Conference that he leans more towards a fight with Matt Brown at UFC 300

At the post-fight press conference, Miller made his intentions more clear. While he isn’t opposed to the idea of a fight with Paul Felder, he actually would prefer a bout with Matt Brown.

“Paul and I almost fought in 2015,” Miller said of Felder at the post-fight press conference (H/T MMA Fighting). “I think that fight would be brutal. I think that is a brutal fight, me and him locked in a cage for 15 minutes. I also think that Matt Brown fight is amazing as well.”

“I think it’s awesome because one, I don’t have to cut weight. Two, he’s the guy with the most finishes at welterweight, I’m the guy with the most finishes at lightweight. That’s a fight for [UFC] 300. Let’s put on a show, let’s go out and entertain.”

“I’m willing to move up in weight for that type of event,” Jim Miller continued. “It’s not like I’m trying get my rankings up or anything like that. Particularly at 300, I would hop in at any moment if Sean [Shelby] called me for those types of fights — Sean, if you’re watching. I want to put on an epic show with two badass dudes who have been around for a bit, and I think Matt might be that guy.”

On social media, Matt Brown gave the idea a green light. “I love Jim Miller, would be an honor,” he said. A fight between the two men would indeed be epic. It would be a clash of styles, as Brown is more of a striker, and Miller a grappler. Sometimes those fights can end very one-sidedly, but sometimes they also make for an insane back-and-forth war.

Jim Miller also spoke about his nickname (Which is ‘A10’) and explained how he’d like there to be an alteration to it at UFC 300.

“I don’t know if Bruce [Buffer] will introduce me as Jim ‘F******’ Miller,” Miller said. “I don’t know if he swears when he’s working. He definitely swears when he’s not. I think it would be cool. I think it would be cool to maybe open the pay-per-view with that. I think doing that in front of the T-Mobile full of fans would be awesome. I think that would get me super fired up.”

How do you feel about Jim Miller preferring a fight with Matt Brown now?

Paul Felder open to UFC 300 return fight with Jim Miller: ‘I’m leaning towards wanting to do it’

Paul Felder weighs up UFC 300 fight with Jim MIller I'm leaning toward doing itContinuing in his record-setting ways last night at UFC Vegas 84, veteran lightweight fan-favorite, Jim Miller may have a…

Paul Felder weighs up UFC 300 fight with Jim MIller I'm leaning toward doing it

Continuing in his record-setting ways last night at UFC Vegas 84, veteran lightweight fan-favorite, Jim Miller may have a willing dance partner available to him as he targets a quickfire turnaround at UFC 300 in April – in the form of color-commentator and former lightweight challenger, Paul Felder.

Miller, who landed his twenty-sixth and most victories in the history of the Octagon last night, did so in spectacular fashion against Gabriel Benitez, landing a stunning third round rear-naked choke win in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 84.

Paul Felder weighs up Jim Miller clash at UFC 300

And linked with a potential UFC 300 landing in April following appearances on the flagship 200 card back in 2016, and the 100 event back in 2009, Jim Miller has been met with an offer to share the Octagon by Felder – whom himself is weighing up a return from a 2020 retirement from active competition.

“And that’s why it’s so, so tough, right?” Paul Felder told assembled media after UFC Vegas 84. “And so tempting. And, you know, [I’m] leaning towards wanting to do it because it’s Jim (Miller), and he wants to be called at UFC 300, Jim ‘F*cking’ MIller.”

“I mean, he’s awesome,” Paul Felder explained. “He fights awesome. Especially, I get to see that fight right in front of my eyes, right where it’s a leg kick battle. It’s a stand-up battle primarily, obviously finish them on the ground, as Jim can do. But I mean, if it’s going to be a fight like that, then I think the fans would eat it up because, you know, I’m not shooting any takedowns in there, especially against Jim.”

Turning in five victories in his six most recent Octagon walks, New Jersey native, Miller added Benitez to recent triumphs against the likes of Erick Gonzalez, Nikolas Motta, and a submission success against former lightweight title challenger and Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone.

Who wins in a future UFC 300 pairing: Paul Felder or Jim Miller?

Paul Felder questions if Paddy Pimblett can beat any top-15 UFC lightweight: ‘i really don’t think so’

Paul Felder doubts Paddy Pimblett can beat any top 15 fighter in the UFCFormer lightweight contender, Paul Felder has claimed it’s doubtful that recent winner, Paddy Pimblett can land a triumph over…

Paul Felder doubts Paddy Pimblett can beat any top 15 fighter in the UFC

Former lightweight contender, Paul Felder has claimed it’s doubtful that recent winner, Paddy Pimblett can land a triumph over any top-15 lightweight contender in the promotion, off the back of his UFC 296 win over former interim champion, Tony Ferguson last month.

Pimblett, who turned in his fourth consecutive victory at UFC 296 last month, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over Ferguson, handing the Oxnard veteran his seventh straight loss. 

Prior to that, Paddy Pimblett battled to a dubious unanimous decision win over Jared Gordon two years ago, following a pair of stoppage wins over both Jordan Leavitt, and Luigi Vendramini.

Paddy Pimblett’s ability called into question

Receiving criticizm from former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington – who poked fun at the Liverpool native’s ability, Pimblett’s ability to also defeat any lightweight within the top-15 rankings has been highly doubted by Philadelphia favorite, Felder.

“Can Paddy (Pimblett) beat anyone in the top-15?” Paul Felder asked on the UFC ‘Round-Up’ show, “I will start with this: Of course he can. We know that it’s MMA – anything can happen. But if we were going to sit here and make bets, and if I had to predict: No, I really don’t think so. He struggled to ever get Tony (Ferguson) out of there who looked the worst he’s ever looked in his career.”

“He was able to hurt Tony a little bit, but he really should have been able to put him away,” Felder explained. “Not taking anything away from him – he knew he was going to be in for a hard one, even if he won this fight. He said it in the media days leading up that we were going to criticize him even if he wins, if he didn’t go out there and maybe get him out of there. So, here we are criticizing him.” 

What’s next for Paddy Pimblett after his UFC 296 win?

Leon Edwards – Islam Makhachev super fight axed by veteran UFC favorite: ‘Stay in your freaking divisions’

Leon Edwards - Islam Makhachev super fight axed by UFC veteran stay in your freaking divisionsA much discussed welterweight title fight between Octagon champions, Leon Edwards and his lightweight counterpart, Islam Makhachev has been…

Leon Edwards - Islam Makhachev super fight axed by UFC veteran stay in your freaking divisions

A much discussed welterweight title fight between Octagon champions, Leon Edwards and his lightweight counterpart, Islam Makhachev has been firmly axed by former lightweight contender turned color-commentator, who urged fighters to stay in their weight classes and defend their respective titles.

Edwards, the current undisputed welterweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 296 earlier this month, successfully defending his divisional crown for the second time in a one-sided unanimous decision win over arch-rival and former interim titleholder, Colby Covington.

As for Makhachev, the Russian favorite lodged his own successful defense of the lightweight title for the second time back in October, stopping two-time challenger, Alexander Volkanovski with a hellacious opening round high-kick KO win.

And in the aftermath of Birmingham native, Edwards’ one-sided shutout win over Covington, the above-mentioned, Makhachev weighed up a welterweight move, claiming a fight against Edwards must be next for him.

Leon Edwards urged to avoid Islam Makhachev fight

However, as far as Felder – who has been linked with his own return potentially at UFC 300, is concerned, talk of two-weight champions should be put on the back burner indefinitely.

“We established that [Belal Muhammad] is the number one contender, you’re [Leon Edwards] also saying that you want to break Georges St-Pierre [title defense] record, but then we got Islam Makhachev out there saying he should be next for the welterweight belt,” Paul Felder said on the UFC ‘Round-Up’ show. “Guys, stay in your freaking divisions, reign over your dvisions. Can we get dominant champions before you all star wanting to fight for other belts?”

“It didn’t used to be like that this,” Felder explained. “The guys that did this in the beginning – obviously Conor (McGregor) is an exception. He did it, it was craziness. He was a superstar. (Daniel Cormier) did it because he earned it and was a 205’er. Amanda Nunes earned it. Now it’s just like everyone and their mother wants to be able to be a double champ. And it’s like, ‘Well, how about you get a whole lot of title defenses first, then you go and stpe up?’”

Who wins in a future fight: Leon Edwards or Islam Makhachev?