Petr Yan did not give his all when fighting Cory Sandhagen.
That is an incredible thing to say, considering the insane pace put on by both Yan and Sandhagen in their UFC 267 co-main event interim title bout. The two went back and forth, with Sandha…
Petr Yan did not give his all when fighting Cory Sandhagen.
That is an incredible thing to say, considering the insane pace put on by both Yan and Sandhagen in their UFC 267 co-main event interim title bout. The two went back and forth, with Sandhagen winning the first round, before getting shut down for the rest of the Fight of the Night affair.
However speaking on The MMA Hour, Yan revealed the only reason why Sandhagen was able to take that first round away from him. He says that he was only collecting info on Sandhagen, and that by the end of the fight, he had only given about 70% of his skillset and cardio to win the fight.
“The only reason he won the first round was because I gave it away. My goal was just to pressure, counterpunch a little bit, but I only used like 30% of my abilities in the first two rounds. Then my goal was to add, add more with each round, but I believe I ended this fight with only 70% of my abilities, and cardio, and conditioning,” Yan said.
“First round I used to learn how he moves, how he attacks, to gain the data. After that, I can use that knowledge against him in later rounds.”
This is not far off from the gameplan that Petr Yan typically follows; making reads for a round or two, then using what he learned to dominate opponents. That said, given the variety of strikes thrown and the pace at which these two fought, it is insane to think that by the end of it, he still had almost an entire third of his energy and skills remaining, that were not used across the course of this fight.
Dana White says people need to pump the brakes a bit on talks of Khamzat Chimaev fighting for a title.
White has been singing the praises of the UFC’s hot new prospect since he first debuted in the promotion. Even after being gone for a year due to…
Dana White says people need to pump the brakes a bit on talks of Khamzat Chimaev fighting for a title.
White has been singing the praises of the UFC’s hot new prospect since he first debuted in the promotion. Even after being gone for a year due to health issues, the UFC President maintained that videos about Chimaev that were posted to the promotion’s social media were doing crazy numbers ahead of his return.
After Chimaev utterly dominated Li Jingliang at UFC 267 last month, people started to ask questions about just how fast he would get pushed to a title shot, with some even suggesting he could next be facing the winner of UFC 268’s main event title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
However, White spoke with TSN to say that he is not sure that this is the right move for someone as green as Chimaev, saying he might need a couple more fights first.
“I don’t know if Chimaev is ready for that yet. (a title shot) Chimaev just broke into the top ten by fighting number eleven. It’s a whole ‘nother ball game when you get into the top ten, and you start fighting five and up. He’s one or two fights away from a championship,” White said.
There is certainly room for understanding when it comes to why some people feel like Khamzat Chimaev will be fighting for a title soon, regardless of what Dana White says. This is the product of what happens when you book someone against the number-two ranked contender in the world for their fourth fight in the promotion, even if that never materialized.
Nevertheless, White is probably right that another fight or two would be best for Chimaev, and he added in the interview that he was hopeful to get the Chechen back in the Octagon before the end of the year. The plan seems to be leaning towards Nate Diaz as the next fight for Chimaev, but time will tell what actually happens.
Check out the full interview with Dana White below:
Petr Yan is ready for the possibility of Aljamain Sterling pulling out of their rematch again.
Yan and Sterling were originally expected to face off over the weekend in the co-main event of UFC 267 to rematch their first fight that ended with Sterl…
Petr Yan is ready for the possibility of Aljamain Sterling pulling out of their rematch again.
With Yan winning that fight, he is now expecting to face Sterling for a second time, hopefully, in the first quarter of 2022, he said on The MMA Hour. He also explained that even if something else comes up and Sterling pulls out again, he will be willing to fight whoever the UFC says.
“If he will be next, I will beat him up. If it’s not him, I’m not going to be too upset because I’ll just beat somebody else up,” Yan said.
Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“To be honest, I don’t know yet but probably February or March would be perfect (to fight him)… Of course, I understand that now it’s an even bigger fight and people expected to see it again. I believe I already beat him up once, but once I sign the contract, I will be 100% focused to do it again. This time I’m going to hurt him real bad.”
Given the way Sterling controversially won the title, with Yan getting disqualified after kneeing his grounded opponent in the head in a fight he was winning, the interim champ would not be surprised if Sterling pulled out again. He says that he lives in Sterling’s head rent free and that there is a solid chance they will never fight again because of it.
“I live inside his head. It’s 1,000% (that Sterling will pull out)… The man who ran away once can always run again. His heart is how a chicken’s heart is, very small.”
Hopefully nothing happens and the bantamweight division can get clarity in it once again.
Despite falling to a first-round submission loss at the hands of Islam Makhachev at UFC 267, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Dan Hooker on Halloween weekend.
On Saturday, Hooker secured himself a bag that wasn’t even on the table just over a month…
Despite falling to a first-round submission loss at the hands of Islam Makhachev at UFC 267, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Dan Hooker on Halloween weekend.
On Saturday, Hooker secured himself a bag that wasn’t even on the table just over a month ago. After returning to the win column with an intelligent decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 in September, “The Hangman” found himself signing another bout agreement just days later, this time against the surging #5-ranked contender.
After former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos withdrew from his scheduled clash against Makhachev, Hooker stepped in on short notice. The narrative ahead of the fight surrounded the belief among the Dagestani’s camp that the New Zealander barely had a chance. Believing he knew something that they didn’t, Hooker repeatedly implied he’d shock the world in Abu Dhabi.
Ultimately, Makhachev’s pressure and skill on the ground proved too much for Hooker. In the opening round, he was taken down and submitted with a brutal kimura. While Makhachev pursues a title shot or title eliminator, Hooker will be looking to rebound yet again in his next outing.
GIVE THIS MAN HIS RESPECT!!!@MakhachevMMA with the round 1?? kimura.
Hooker Previously Denied Taking The Fight For The Paycheck
Ahead of the main card clash, many had suggested Hooker’s reason for accepting the short-notice bout was money-motivated. Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz claimed the #6-ranked lightweight was showing up simply for the payday. After Hooker requested the fight be changed to five rounds, Makhachev chimed in, suggesting the New Zealander’s desire for a 25-minute distance was rooted out of his search for a bigger paycheck.
“Honestly, I think Hooker come to Abu Dhabi just for make money,” Makhachev said in an interview with BT Sport. “That’s why he ask about five rounds, because he know. Some fighters, they give five rounds, they paid more money. I think before, when he took this fight, he asked about more money, too. He say, ‘I’m gonna fight this one, but you guys just have to pay me more.’ He come to Abu Dhabi just (to) do good business, you know?”
Having previously claimed he never fights purely for the remuneration, Hooker has seemingly admitted that it’s provided some consolation for his disappointing defeat inside Yas Island’s Etihad Arena. In a tweet that was deleted shortly after, Hooker posted the following GIF of actor Woody Harrelson wiping his tears with a stack of bills.
While it’s likely Hooker was simply jesting about the pre-event narrative surrounding his decision to step-up to face the surging Russian, the paycheck he likely received certainly must have helped him cope with his third defeat in four outings.
It’s been just hours since Jan Blachowicz lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, and it appears he already may have a willing opponent in Anthony Smith. Smith was originally slated to face Aleksandar Rakic on Dec. 18 in a light heavyweight rematch but recently withdrew from the fight due […]
It’s been just hours since Jan Blachowicz lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, and it appears he already may have a willing opponent in Anthony Smith.
Smith was originally slated to face Aleksandar Rakic on Dec. 18 in a light heavyweight rematch but recently withdrew from the fight due to a staph infection. But now, Smith alleges that the UFC has offered him to return against Blachowicz at a later date, though it’s unclear whether or not the offer was officially accepted.
Blachowicz, shortly after losing the belt to Teixeira, discussed an initial targeted return in March. According to Smith, this would work perfectly for his path to the title and is a matchup he’s eager to take on.
Anthony Smith Says He’s Been Offered A Jan Blachowicz Fight After UFC 267
“I’m kind of liking this Jan Blachowicz fight,” Smith said during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. They brought it to me that night. He wants to fight again, he wants to fight soon. I’m not crazy injured, I’m just dealing with little stuff and an infection. As long as we can get the infection cleared, I don’t think February is out of the question.”
“I love that fight, and I like that guy,” Smith continued. “I want the Rakic fight, I want that back but I don’t think he wants to wait so if he wants to go in and fight someone else that is fine. I like the Jan Blachowicz fight.”
A Smith vs. Blachowicz fight could make a lot of sense for the title picture in the light heavyweight division as well. Teixeira is widely expected to make his first title defense against Jiri Prochazka, who was the alternate for UFC 267. Smith and Blachowicz are both looking to earn another shot at UFC gold.
Do you think Anthony Smith vs. Jan Blachowicz is the fight to make?
After the latest tour de force from MMA juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev, people are doing less squinting and eye rubbing because it’s becoming clear that they are seeing something speci…
“It’s a Khabib!”
“It’s a hype train!”
“It’s Khamzat Chimaev!”
After the latest tour de force from MMA juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev, people are doing less squinting and eye rubbing because it’s becoming clear that they are seeing something special—whatever the heck it is.
Khamzat Chimaev, able to bind together two wins in a single week.
Khamzat Chimaev, able to string together four wins while only suffering a single hit.
Is this real? Are we living within a video game world with the sickest player alive controlling this cheat code of a monster? What in the world is going on here?
“I never felt in trouble. I do this with all my opponents – I smash them all, first round, second round. I have seven wins, seven finishes” – Khamzat Chimaev after defeating john phillips
Khamzat Smesh. UFC Victim #1- John Philips
When Khamzat Chimaev burst onto the scene as a gust of fire smoke when smashing John Phillips on July 16, 2020, the general reaction was, ‘Heh, that guy looks pretty dang good. But then again, Phillips doesn’t really have a ground game, so…”
OK then. Onto the next smashing.
“I love how talented this guy is. We threw the hottest prospect out of the U.K. at him and that kid is a badass. That kid is a legit great fighter. (Chimaev) made it look like he didn’t belong there. … The kid is legit. He’s real and he knows it and I love it” – Dana White after chimaev’s victory over rhys mckee
Khamzat Smesh. UFC Victim #2- Rhys McKee
One week later, Chimaev then upped the intensity of his own Smesh Machine™ to another level on its apparently infinite barometer and smashed Rhys McKee via TKO three minutes into the first round.
“There is no doubt now. @KChimaev is THE TRUTH.” – Joe Rogan moments after Chimaev’s third UFC victory.
Khamzat Smesh. UFC Victim #3 – Gerald Meerscheart
Borz wanted more. Borz was still hungry.
Unfortunately, one of the many side effects of COVID-19 is that it stunts your appetite. So Chimaev had to sit, wait, and lick his chops before feasting again as he said he would.
And oh, that he did after devouring The Leech at UFC 267.
Khamzat Smesh. UFC Victim #4 – Li Jingliang
“I Become The Borz Now. I Eat Everyone.” – Khamzat Chimaev After Defeating Li Jingliang
So OK, enough is enough. It’s obvious we’re not dealing with a normal human being, let alone a normal MMA fighter. But still, the question remains, what the heck are we witnessing?
Are we witnessing the tale of the most promising hype train of all that will be shockingly derailed?
Are we witnessing the groundwork being laid to the biggest, most thrilling dream match in the history of the welterweight division when we look back on it someday, in Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
Khamzat Chimaev, Kamaru Usman (Image Credits: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC & Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Or are Usman, fans, and each of Chimaev’s future victims all just playing a part in what will be a career story unlike any other in the history of our sport?
Right now, no one really can answer that, but like any good suspenseful, drama, it’s going to be fun to find out. In the meantime, it’s OK, buy into the hype. It’s free, and it’s delicious.
There’s no amount of superlatives that can do Khamzat Chimaev justice at this stage of this hype train’s route. So my advice: Don’t fight it. Just enjoy the well-deserved hype.
Yes, rationally speaking, there are still a ton of questions about Khamzat Chimaev, but it’s OK. Join the hype now, avoid the rush.
Because hype is fun, my friends. It feeds the imagination. And both Chimaev and our imaginations are feasting every time he enters the Octagon.
It’s been just hours since Jan Blachowicz lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, and it appears he already may have a willing opponent in Anthony Smith. Smith was originally slated to face Aleksandar Rakic on Dec. 18 in a light heavyweight rematch but recently withdrew from the fight due […]
