Tag: Stephen A. Smith

Jorge Masvidal Apologizes To Stephen A. Smith After Seeing Kamaru Usman Pad Footage

Masvidal UsmanThe trash talk between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman continues. Masvidal is expected to be next in line to challenge for Usman’s welterweight title and things have certainly heated up between the pair in recent weeks. Most notable was their Super Bowl media day altercation which further highlighted that they don’t like each other. In […]

Masvidal Usman

The trash talk between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman continues.

Masvidal is expected to be next in line to challenge for Usman’s welterweight title and things have certainly heated up between the pair in recent weeks. Most notable was their Super Bowl media day altercation which further highlighted that they don’t like each other.

In a more humorous shift, however, Masvidal recently decided to mock footage of Usman’s pad work. He did this by apologizing to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, who took a lot of grief for his own pad work footage that did the rounds.

“I want to apologize to @stephenasmith on behalf of the mma community. They had something to say about you but wtf is this?”

As for when a fight could happen, UFC president Dana White recently revealed that it could take place during International Fight Week in the summer which is still some time away.

However, both fighters are open to other options, namely a lucrative fight with Conor McGregor, with Usman recently hinting that he could face the Irishman next.

We’ll just have to wait and see what’s next for both of them.

Do you think we’ll see Masvidal challenge for Usman’s title next?

Archives: White Weighs In On Conflict Between Rogan & Smith (2020)

The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives. [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2020, 9:50 PM] Headline: Dana White Weighs In On Disagreement Between Joe Rogan & Stephen A. Smith Author: Fernando Quiles Jr. UFC President Dana […]

Continue Reading Archives: White Weighs In On Conflict Between Rogan & Smith (2020) at MMA News.

The following article was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 6, 2020, 9:50 PM]

Headline: Dana White Weighs In On Disagreement Between Joe Rogan & Stephen A. Smith

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

UFC President Dana White has given his two cents on the disagreement between Joe Rogan and Stephen A. Smith.

Stephen A. got plenty of flak for his comments on Donald Cerrone’s performance against Conor McGregor at UFC 246. “Cowboy” was defeated in 40 seconds. During the post-UFC 246 edition of SportsCenter, Stephen A. said he felt Cerrone “gave up” and that his performance was “atrocious.”

Rogan fired back at Stephen A. and said he shouldn’t be allowed to talk about the sport of MMA. The two have gone back-and-forth since and even Conor McGregor chimed in.

White Responds To Rogan-Stephen A. Ordeal

MMAJunkie.com caught up with UFC boss Dana White, who gave his viewpoint on the situation. White said disagreements are simply bound to happen between two opinionated personalities.

“I’m not into it. Rogan is not into it. You don’t see that in the UFC. There will be times where I’m pissed off at a guy, and I’ll voice my opinion on what he did or whatever – or if a fight is really bad or somebody did something. What we don’t do is, when a fight is over and a guy loses, we don’t go in and rip them apart. It’s just not our style. We’re fans. We don’t do it. I think Rogan was reacting to that. That’s our philosophy here. For Stephen A. Smith, that’s his thing. That’s what he does. It’s going to happen. You’re always going to have people who have difference in opinions, especially when you have two very opinionated guys like Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan.”

Stephen A. has been discussing UFC bouts more since the promotion’s deal with ESPN. While Smith has covered MMA in the past, he doesn’t do so nearly as much as other sports such as basketball or football.

While many within the MMA community have been at odds with Stephen A., some have looked at the other side. There’s no doubting that Stephen A. is ESPN’s most popular personality and his reach to the casual sports fan is significant. If he talks about lesser-known MMA fighters, it could boost their stock. Of course, insinuating that a fighter quit can also have the opposite effect.

Continue Reading Archives: White Weighs In On Conflict Between Rogan & Smith (2020) at MMA News.

Dana White Offers His Take On Stephen A. Smith Controversy

Dana WhiteUFC president Dana White has offered his take on the Stephen A. Smith controversy within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community. Smith caught a lot of flack for suggesting that Donald Cerrone “quit” in his 40-second loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 246 last month. He received backlash from the likes of McGregor himself, and […]

Dana White

UFC president Dana White has offered his take on the Stephen A. Smith controversy within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community.

Smith caught a lot of flack for suggesting that Donald Cerrone “quit” in his 40-second loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 246 last month. He received backlash from the likes of McGregor himself, and longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Now, speaking to MMA Junkie, White has offered his take on the situation, not necessarily agreeing with what Smith said either.

“I didn’t hear him, I didn’t hear what he said,” White said. “I did hear that there was some stuff going back-and-forth, which is gonna happen. One of the things, when we bought and built the UFC, that we always did, being fight fans ourselves – I’m a huge fight fan, Lorenzo is a huge fight fan, Joe Rogan is a huge fight fan – and one of the things that we hated was, on HBO Boxing, and some other boxing that they would do, listen, you’re tuning in and buying the pay-per-view (PPV) cause you love these guys and you respect these fighters, and you’re a fan of the sport.

“The last thing you want to do is hear somebody ripping them apart. It’s not – I’m not into it, Rogan’s not into it, and you don’t see that in the UFC. There’ll be times when I’m pissed off at a guy and I’ll voice my opinion on what he did, whatever – or if a fight is really bad and somebody did something. But what we don’t do is, when a fight is over and a guy loses, we don’t go in there and rip them apart.

“Just not our style, we’re fans, we don’t do it. So I think Rogan was reacting to that because, that’s our philosophy here. For Stephen A. Smith, that’s his thing, that what he does. It’s gonna happen. You’re always going to have people who have difference in opinions and especially when you have two very opinionated guys like Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan.”

White is currently in Houston, Texas for UFC 247 this weekend (Sat. February 8, 2020). Jon Jones headlines against Dominick Reyes, with “Bones’” light heavyweight title on the line.

What do you think about White’s comments on Smith?

Stephen A. Smith Doesn’t Care What McGregor, Rogan Say: I Will Not Apologize

Stephen A. SmithStephen A. Smith landed in hot water with the mixed martial arts (MMA) community last month during his broadcast coverage of UFC 246. Smith was on site for the pay-per-view (PPV) event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event of the night, Conor McGregor took out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in […]

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith landed in hot water with the mixed martial arts (MMA) community last month during his broadcast coverage of UFC 246.

Smith was on site for the pay-per-view (PPV) event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event of the night, Conor McGregor took out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in just 40 seconds after a masterful performance. After the show, Smith said he was “disgusted” by Cerrone’s performance, accusing the longtime veteran of quitting. Smith took a ton of backlash from the MMA community for his comments, with Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor even chiming in.

McGregor even suggested that Smith should apologize for his comments about Cerrone. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on ESPN Radio, Smith said he won’t apologize for suggesting that the lights were too bright for “Cowboy.” (H/T MMA News)

“If you’re telling me to apologize for using the word ‘quit’ or whatever, fine that’s no problem but don’t tell me that the guy wasn’t in over his head, don’t tell me the guy didn’t look like the bright light was just too big or too great for him. Don’t tell me that it didn’t illuminate on him so much that he didn’t seem to be able to handle the pressure of the moment. I’m not apologizing for that.”

Smith went on the praise McGregor, who he labeled as an “elite” competitor despite his several submission losses throughout his career. The ESPN analyst appreciates that McGregor never fails to truly “show up” when the lights are brightest.

“Conor McGregor as far as I’m concerned, despite four losses on his resume is elite. And one of the biggest reasons he is elite even though he’s tapped out a couple of times or so is this reality, he shows up. He shows up for the big events and the big events never seem to be too much for him. Conor McGregor’s not gonna be somebody that goes out there and beats himself. You wanna beat him you’re gonna have to literally do that, beat him.”

Even with the likes of McGregor, Rogan, and more giving him flack, Smith remains firm on his stance. Smith maintains he has a tremendous amount of respect for both Rogan and McGregor, even when the UFC commentator suggested he’d prefer a fighter to take Smith’s place in the UFC broadcast, but they’ll simply have to agree to disagree on this topic.

“I will not apologize and I will not backtrack from my position. I don’t care what Conor McGregor or Joe Rogan says, although I profoundly respect both. We will just have to respectfully disagree on what we saw.”

McGregor didn’t call anyone out after UFC 246, unlike how he usually does. Initially, fights against Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman, and more were discussed. Given McGregor wants to compete before this summer, the only likely opponents available at the moment are Nate Diaz and Justin Gaethje. It will be interesting to see if McGregor decides to wait and see how things play out for the next several months before fighting again.

What do you think about Smith saying he won’t apologize for his comments about Cerrone?

Stephen A. Smith Won’t Apologize To Conor McGregor Or Joe Rogan

Stephen A. Smith says he has immense respect for Conor McGregor or Joe Rogan but he won’t apologize. The popular ESPN personality is known for giving takes on the world of sports and he doesn’t often hide his feelings. This drew the ire of …

Stephen A. Smith says he has immense respect for Conor McGregor or Joe Rogan but he won’t apologize. The popular ESPN personality is known for giving takes on the world of sports and he doesn’t often hide his feelings. This drew the ire of many within the MMA community at the conclusion of UFC 246. […]

The post Stephen A. Smith Won’t Apologize To Conor McGregor Or Joe Rogan appeared first on MMA News.

Archives: Diaz Blasts McGregor & Rogan Over Stephen A. Ordeal (2020)

After Conor McGregor ran through Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith shared his harsh opinion of Cowboy’s performance, which resulted in Conor McGregor, Joe Rogan, and many others in the MMA community coming down hard on Smith. Donald Cerrone would later say, in his own words, that he “didn’t want to […]

Continue Reading Archives: Diaz Blasts McGregor & Rogan Over Stephen A. Ordeal (2020) at MMA News.

After Conor McGregor ran through Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith shared his harsh opinion of Cowboy’s performance, which resulted in Conor McGregor, Joe Rogan, and many others in the MMA community coming down hard on Smith.

Donald Cerrone would later say, in his own words, that he “didn’t want to be there” at UFC 246. Prior to Cerrone making these remarks, Nate Diaz had already come to Smith’s defense against McGregor’s and Rogan’s criticisms.

On This Day Two Years Ago...

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 30, 2020, 9:38 AM]

Headline: Nate Diaz Blasts Conor McGregor & Joe Rogan Over Stephen A. Smith Ordeal

Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

Nate Diaz thinks Conor McGregor and Joe Rogan are in the wrong when it comes to their ordeal with Stephen A. Smith.

Stephen A.’s post-UFC 246 comments on Donald Cerrone’s performance against McGregor have been a hot topic within the MMA community. The ESPN personality ripped “Cowboy’s” performance and called it “atrocious.” He even said that it looked as if Cerrone “gave up.”

Rogan criticized Smith over his remarks and said he shouldn’t be allowed to talk about MMA again. Stephen A. responded by saying Rogan is wrong to question his ability to cover MMA but Conor McGregor wasn’t thrilled with the response as he made clear on his Twitter account.

“The call you discuss here is A+. I didn’t show enough. I’m not paid by the hour though. Joe’s comments however, come from you saying the opposition fighter quit. Broken nose/orbital bone say different. Fighting is vicious. Those who make the walk deserve full respect! Apologize.”

Nate Diaz Puts Conor McGregor & Joe Rogan On Blast

Diaz is aware of the whole ordeal and he’s taking Stephen A.’s side as he revealed in a Twitter post.

“Rogan and Conor should give Stephen Smith a apology he said what it was The fight was over before it started Get offfeachothers nuts.”

Before the tweet, Diaz had told ESPN’s Marc Raimondi that he felt Cerrone was a layup for McGregor.

“Cowboy doesn’t care about winning and losing, so [McGregor] didn’t have a very hard fight on his hands,” Diaz said.

Do you agree with Nate Diaz?

Continue Reading Archives: Diaz Blasts McGregor & Rogan Over Stephen A. Ordeal (2020) at MMA News.