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Nate Diaz alleged to have turned down hush money from UFC in relation to failed drug test return in 2019

Former lightweight contender, Josh Thomson has claimed fellow former UFC contender, Nate Diaz turned down hush money from the promotion – in order to keep a failed drug test quiet ahead of his 2019 symbolic BMF championship fight with Jorge Masvidal. Diaz, a former lightweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, has been […]

Diaz, a former lightweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from active competition since last month, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Jake Paul over the course of 12 rounds in the pair’s professional boxing clash.

Prior to that, the fan-favorite Stockton native headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year against former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, submitting the Oxnard native with a fourth round guillotine choke submission win.

Infamously competing for the inaugural BMF championship against the above-mentioned, Masvidal back in November 2019, Nate Diaz’s headliner at Madison Square Garden was briefly cast into doubt, after reports confirmed how he had been flagged by anti-doping agency, USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), in relation to a trace amount return for the banned substance, lingandrol.

Josh Thomson alleges UFC offered Nate Diaz hush money back in 2019

It later transpired that the flagging occurred to a plant-based multivitamin Diaz was utilizing during his camp for his fight with Masvidal, however, according to Thomson, he was informed by a member of the Californian’s camp that the UFC attempted to offer him a payola to keep things on the down low.

“I look at it this way, this is the thing,” Thomson said on WEIGHING IN. “Look what they [the UFC] were trying to do with Nate Diaz. He tested positive, and they were like, ‘You know what, we’ll get it sorted out now.’ That means that they knew that Nate tested [positive], and they were still gonna let him fight… So I would not say that they have not tried to do that, or would not do it.”

“When I’m looking at [Brock Lesnar], I mean I’m just thinking to myself that this was early in USADA,” Thomson explained. “I don’t know. I don’t wanna say that they knew, but I wanna that the history – which I can only give you that case – is that they tried to have Nate still fight, and ‘We’ll deal with it after.’… I know people in Nate’s camp that said they even tried to offer money/ They tired to like, ‘We’ll take care of it all afterwards, no big deal. It’s probably just a misunderstanding.’” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Who do you want to see Nate Diaz fight in his return?

Nate Diaz alleged to have turned down hush money from UFC in relation to failed drug test return in 2019

Josh Thomson alleges UFC offered Nate Diaz hush money back in 2019

Who do you want to see Nate Diaz fight in his return?

Usman Explains Why First Covington Fight Was So Important

UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has detailed why his first victory over Colby Covington was monumental for his Octagon career. In the UFC 245 main event, Usman defended his title for the first time, having dominantly dethroned Tyron Woodley earlier in 2019. In his way of adding another achievement to his blossoming legacy was Covington,…

Continue Reading Usman Explains Why First Covington Fight Was So Important at MMA News.

UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has detailed why his first victory over Colby Covington was monumental for his Octagon career.

In the UFC 245 main event, Usman defended his title for the first time, having dominantly dethroned Tyron Woodley earlier in 2019. In his way of adding another achievement to his blossoming legacy was Covington, a former interim titleholder who had won seven straight prior to his first undisputed championship opportunity.

When the pair threw down at the Las Vegas-held pay-per-view, fireworks ensued. In a memorable war, both men left everything inside the cage.

After four rounds of action, many had the pair level on the scorecards leading into a crucial fifth frame. In the end, it was “The Nigerian Nightmare” who proved his championship mettle, finishing “Chaos” with less than a minute of the headline bout remaining.

While the triumph marked the first defense of his welterweight reign, Usman believes it represented so much more.

Usman: Covington Win Proved I Can Do Anything

Since his UFC 245 success, Usman has gone on to defend the 170-pound gold a further four times, twice against Jorge Masvidal, once against Gilbert Burns, and, most recently, in a rematch against Covington last November.

During a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, the welterweight king discussed his ongoing stint with the belt. When asked which of the rubies on his belt meant the most, Usman identified his 2019 FOTY contender with Covington as one that was “monumental” for his career.

“I have some important (rubies) on there (the title). Of course, the first one is tough, the first one is big, being able to actually get this belt and call yourself a champion,” said Usman. “That was important to me, that was very, very big. How do you top that? You go and fight Colby Covington. That first fight was very—was monumental for me.

“It allowed me to understand something about myself. I wasn’t willing to fold. I wasn’t willing to break, under any circumstances, even the worst circumstances,” noted Usman. “And that’s what that fight taught me. Because anyone and everyone who watches that fight (saw that) I got hit. I took some shots. I’ve never been hit that much in my career, ever. I took some shots in that fight and I didn’t go away. I stood there and I said I was going to accomplish this. I was gonna beat this guy.”

For Usman, the fact he was able to push through adversity in his very first defense proved he could do anything moving forward. Given his recent results, that sentiment is certainly hard to argue with.

“Being able to do that, it just let me know, ‘You can do anything. You literally can do anything, anything at all.’ So, nothing is too great. No vision, no goal is too great for me to achieve at this moment, because of that,” concluded Usman.

With his ongoing dominance atop the welterweight mountain, Usman has certainly entered the divisional GOAT conversation, even if he is yet to firmly surpass the legacy of Georges St-Pierre.

Should “The Nigerian Nightmare” continue to push away challengers, including the likes of Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev, the debate will become a lot more interesting.

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Was Kamaru Usman’s first victory over Colby Covington the best of his career to date?

Continue Reading Usman Explains Why First Covington Fight Was So Important at MMA News.

Colby Covington Questions UFC 245 Corner Advice

Ahead of his second attempt at dethroning UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington has ridiculed the advice he received from his corner at UFC 245.

After going 8-1 in the UFC, which included a victory over Demian Maia, Covington secu…

Ahead of his second attempt at dethroning UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington has ridiculed the advice he received from his corner at UFC 245.

After going 8-1 in the UFC, which included a victory over Demian Maia, Covington secured his first shot at gold in the promotion in 2018. At UFC 225, “Chaos” defeated former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos. In doing so, he won the interim belt, a strap he was later stripped of after requiring surgery.

Following that success, Covington’s first undisputed title fight went down at UFC 245 in 2019. In the main event, he was the first challenge to Usman’s reign. “The Nigerian Nightmare” won the title earlier in the year with a dominant performance against Tyron Woodley. Usman certainly didn’t have as comfortable a night against Covington. After a back-and-forth war, all was to play for heading into the final frame. Despite Covington’s best efforts, it was the champ who came on stronger and finished the fight on the feet with less than a minute to go.

Now nearly two years later, Covington finds himself with a new team and another opportunity to end Usman’s time on the welterweight throne. “Chaos” will look to exact revenge in the UFC 268 main event this weekend.

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Covington Lays Blame For UFC 245 Defeat With Former Team

So far in fight week, Covington has been up to his usual antics. From a unique nickname for Khamzat Chimaev to his disdain towards former friend Jorge Masvidal, the 33-year-old has had his usual confidence on the mic. One topic that continues to come up is his loss to Usman at UFC 245.

As expected, many are wondering what Covington has changed since his failed attempt to reach the welterweight mountaintop. During his appearance at UFC 268 media day, “Chaos” suggested his 2020 team change will give him the edge on Saturday night.

“First thing that I changed, the biggest thing, is the people around me, the team that I have around me now; Daniel Valverde, my Judo and jiu-jitsu coach, my striking coach Cesar Carneiro, and my strength and conditioning coach Jonathan Lopez… I just have a new-found energy around me; people that actually, genuinely care about me, and they wanna see me win. They’re not just showing up to get paychecks and just work to throw me out there into the fire. They’ve actually been developing my skills and we’ve been growing as a fighter every single day. You’re gonna see new wrinkles in my game. We’ve updated the software. I’m gonna control, alt, delete Marty on Saturday night.”

Prior to his move to MMA Masters, Covington trained at the renowned American Top Team gym. While speaking to the media on Wednesday, the former interim champ laid the blame for his stoppage loss to Usman on the laps of Conan Silveira and the other ATT coaches in his corner.

“If you go back and look at the first fight, the instructions that I was getting. They were telling me something that I do every single day. They were saying, ‘Colby, breathe.’ Dude, we breathe every single day, why are you telling me to breathe. I mean, everybody in this room knows how to breathe. Not everybody knows how to fight and how to instruct fighters with the right instructions.”

Only time will tell if Covington’s move away from ATT has helped him prepare for the challenge of “The Nigerian Nightmare,” who’s also under new tutelage. Alongside the likes of Justin Gaethje and Rose Namajunas, Usman has been training under top coach Trevor Wittman for his last few fights. Since the partnership, the champ has finished Gilbert Burns on the feet and knocked Jorge Masvidal unconscious. While both may have new camps, fans will be hoping for a similar war come Saturday night.

Do you think Colby Covington has what it takes to dethrone Kamaru Usman at UFC 268?

Continue Reading Colby Covington Questions UFC 245 Corner Advice at MMA News.

Kamaru Usman Praises Colby Covington Ahead Of UFC 268 Rematch

The rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington has gotten off to a far more civil start than their previous meeting. Usman and Covington first met face-to-face at UFC 245. The lead-up to the fight featured more than it’s fair share of trash talk from either side, most of it going far beyond the usual […]

The rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington has gotten off to a far more civil start than their previous meeting.

Usman and Covington first met face-to-face at UFC 245. The lead-up to the fight featured more than it’s fair share of trash talk from either side, most of it going far beyond the usual pre-fight build up. However, when all was said and done, Usman got the last laugh with a 5th round stoppage to defend his welterweight title.

Ever since, Colvington has continued to go after Usman online, from immediately calling the stoppage premature to accusing ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ of being on steroids. Despite the trash talk that’s taken place between both men over the past two years, Usman still gave praise to what Covington has accomplished in an interview with Helen Yee (h/t MMA Fighting).

“He’s definitely up there,” Usman said. “I’m no hater, I give props where props are due. I think Colby probably is, I would put him in the top-15 welterweights of all time, as far as fighter-wise and skill-wise, the way that he fights. You may not like him personally, which I really don’t, but as far as skill-wise, he’s a good fighter. A very, very good fighter.”

In the time since the competitors last met, Covington has fought just once, claiming a fifth-round stoppage of his own over former welterweight titleholder Tyron Woodley. As for Usman, he has gone on to stake his claim as one of the pound-for-pound best currently fighting, taking victories over Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal (twice). Regardless of what both men have gone through since their first meeting, Usman expects their rematch to be more of the same.

“I think we were both content with understanding that was a Mano a Mano, we needed to duke it out, we needed to go back in the day and just throw fisticuffs and see who got the better of the other,” Usman said. “I told him, I said I would punish him for four and a half rounds and I would finish him and that’s exactly what I did. I think in this next fight he’s gonna try to be a little more strategic but he’s going to quickly realize that’s not gonna work so you’re just stuck in there getting beat up.”

A victory at UFC 268 would be Usman’s fifth consecutive title defense. That would move him into a tie with Matt Hughes for second all-time behind Georges St-Pierre as far as welterweight is concerned.

Usman has shed the title of being a “boring fighter” by earning stoppage victories in three of his last four fights. However, don’t expect him to try to force the issue when he takes on Covington again.

“It doesn’t matter. Finish or not, the way I fight I want to dominate a guy from start to finish,” Usman said. “I want to out-class a guy. I want a guy to go home, when they lay down in bed at night they’re like, ‘S–t, that guy’s better than me. There was nothing I can do to beat him.’ That’s what I want. That’s the feeling that I want to live with these guys each and every time they compete against me. So whether I finish him or not, I want him to have that feeling. But of course, the finish is great and that’s something that people highly anticipate from me right now.”

Who do you think wins Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington 2? Let us know!

Colby Covington Was ‘Humbled’ By Kamaru Usman According To Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes her American Top Team teammate, Colby Covington was humbled by Kamaru Usman at UFC 245. Heading into that fight, Covington had a public falling out with several fighters at ATT including Jedrzejczyk. “Chaos” was …

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