Tag: ufc 270

Francis Ngannou Training With Glory Champ Rico Verhoeven

Francis NgannouUFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou has his first title defense coming up against interim champ Ciryl Gane and is training with one of the best strikers in the world to prepare for the challenge. Ngannou is training with Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven down at Xtreme Couture MMA Gym. Bringing in top global talent is […]

Francis Ngannou

UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou has his first title defense coming up against interim champ Ciryl Gane and is training with one of the best strikers in the world to prepare for the challenge.

Ngannou is training with Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven down at Xtreme Couture MMA Gym.

Bringing in top global talent is nothing new for top-tier MMA gyms such as Xtreme Couture. Ngannou is preparing for what could be a tough test on the feet against the crafty Gane.

Check out Ngannou and Verhoeven training together below.

Francis Ngannou And Rico Verhoeven Are Two Of The Top Heavyweights In The World Today

Ngannou earned the UFC heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. Before that, he had won four fights in a row by knockout after suffering disappointing losses to Miocic and Derrick Lewis.

Ngannou is probably garnering a lot of knowledge from Verhoeven, who was originally supposed to fight Ngannou’s former opponent, Alistair Overeem, and a recent Glory kickboxing event. Overeem pulled out of the fight with an injury and Verhoeven ended up knocking out Jamal Ben Saddik in their trilogy.

Ngannou and Verhoeven are regarded as two of the most feared men in combat sports today. Both men usually put on a show when they’re in the cage, and often put on knockout performances against their opponents.

Verhoeven has a record of 59-10 in professional kickboxing and hasn’t lost a single fight since 2015. Ngannou isn’t just a striker but has also shown off improved grappling, as evidenced in his most recent win over Miocic.

It’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever get the chance to see Verhoeven and Ngannou go to battle in either kickboxing or MMA, but nothing is impossible. For now, it’s nice to see two of the best heavyweights in the world teaming up and making each other better.

What is your prediction for Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 270?

Blonde Brunson Roasts ‘Nutty Professor Lookin’ Jared Cannonier

It looks like Derek Brunson aka “Blonde Brunson” is ready for his fight with Jared Cannonier.

Sitting at number four in the rankings, and riding a five-fight winning streak, Blonde Brunson is not far from a title shot, and rematch with Israel Adesa…

Derek Brunson Jared Cannonier

It looks like Derek Brunson aka “Blonde Brunson” is ready for his fight with Jared Cannonier.

Sitting at number four in the rankings, and riding a five-fight winning streak, Blonde Brunson is not far from a title shot, and rematch with Israel Adesanya. However, with news recently breaking that the UFC is hoping to book Adesanya in a rematch with Robert Whittaker, it seems clear that he will have to secure at least one more victory before he is considered to be the top contender at 185lb.

So in the meantime, Brunson will be turning his attention to a fight with the man ranked above him, Jared Cannonier, with the two slated to throw down at UFC 270, on January 22nd. Ahead of their important bout, Brunson took to his Twitter to poke a little fun at his upcoming opponent, roasting him over his previous physique, when he was fighting at heavyweight, before eventually losing weight and getting more shredded for his run at middleweight.

“I knew it , I knew it. Cannonier you ain’t slick, ol Nutty Professor lookin boy ???” Brunson wrote.

Obviously, this was all I good spirits, but this was an absolutely hilarious comparison for Brunson to make. With that said, the fight between these two will be all business, as each man looks to establish themselves as a worthy challenger for the title.

Brunson has looked nearly unstoppable since his 2018 loss to Adesanya, racking up impressive wins over the likes of Darren Till, Kevin Holland, and Edmen Shahbazyan. Conversely, Cannonier has won four of his last five, with his only setback being a close fight with former champ Robert Whittaker.

Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier will be facing off at UFC 270, on January 22nd. It will be interesting to see how these two top middleweights square up when the time comes.

Continue Reading Blonde Brunson Roasts ‘Nutty Professor Lookin’ Jared Cannonier at MMA News.

Ciryl Gane Unsure Why Francis Ngannou Snubbed Him, Ex-Team Backstage At UFC 268

Francis NgannouAhead of his January UFC heavyweight title unification clash with former teammate, Francis Ngannou — interim division champion, Ciryl Gane has claimed he is unsure why the Batie native appeared to blank him and his coach, Fernand Lopez, as well as middleweight contender, Nassourdine Imavov whilst walking through the corridors of Madison Square Garden. Slated […]

Francis Ngannou

Ahead of his January UFC heavyweight title unification clash with former teammate, Francis Ngannou — interim division champion, Ciryl Gane has claimed he is unsure why the Batie native appeared to blank him and his coach, Fernand Lopez, as well as middleweight contender, Nassourdine Imavov whilst walking through the corridors of Madison Square Garden.

Slated to headline UFC 270 in January from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California — Ngannou looks to successfully unify the heavyweight titles after the introduction of an interim crown back in August at UFC 265 — which Gane won via a one-sided third round ground strikes knockout win over common-foe, Derrick Lewis.

As a result, Gane will now challenge, brief former training partner, Ngannou in a heavyweight championship unification bout at the beginning of next year to kick off the promotion’s flagship schedule for the annum.

However, the pair were both pictured backstage at UFC 268 last weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York City — with Ngannou appearing to snub a potential interaction with the aforenoted trio of Lopez, Gane, and Imavov whilst passing them in a corridor.

Gane, who was present in the corner of Imavov for the 25-year-old Imavov’s impressive second round ground strikes knockout triumph against Edmen Shahbazyan explained that he was unsure as to why Ngannou appeared to blank him at UFC 268 backstage.

Ciryl Gane questions why Francis Ngannou snubbed Nassourdine Imavov especially

“Why? Just why? It was not necessary,” Ciryl Gane told MMA Junkie reporter, Farah Hannoun. “But it’s like that. Some people think differently than me. Some people are different. So for me, it was not necessary. But he did it. This is his [Francis Ngannou] story, so that’s it. …“

“I’m surprised because maybe he has something against me, maybe he has something against his former coach, Fernand Lopez, but Nassourdine Imavov?” Ciryl Gane questioned. “Nassourdine Imavov just finished his fight, and he won, and in MMA Factory, maybe Nassourdine Imavov was Francis’ biggest sparring partner. So, Fernand, Ok. Me, I’m the future opponent, Ok. But Nassourdine Imavov, it’s a little bit of a shame.“

Whilst a narrative regarding their past training sessions and history as teammates looms large in the background, Gane maintained that he is not out to exact revenge in January.

“At first, I was a little bit uncomfortable with that because too many people try to put me in the headlines like, ‘The guy with the revenge,’ but this is not my story,” Gane maintained. “Let me do my thing, and now I’m comfortable with that. When I started my career in the UFC, maybe my first three fights after every fight, the journalists talk about: ‘And Francis and Francis.’ You, stay focused on me please. I just arrived; I’m gonna do my thing. Francis was already in the top five, so this is the feeling.“

Derek Brunson Calls For ‘Legend’ Frankie Edgar To Bring An End To His MMA Career

Derek BrunsonUFC middleweight contender, Derek Brunson has called for former undisputed lightweight champion and multiple-time featherweight championship challenger, Frankie Edgar to bring an end to his professional mixed martial arts career, off the back of his most recent loss to bantamweight striker, Marlon Vera last weekend. Featuring on the main card of UFC 268 at Madison […]

Derek Brunson

UFC middleweight contender, Derek Brunson has called for former undisputed lightweight champion and multiple-time featherweight championship challenger, Frankie Edgar to bring an end to his professional mixed martial arts career, off the back of his most recent loss to bantamweight striker, Marlon Vera last weekend.

Featuring on the main card of UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden, Toms River native, Edgar was en route to a likely decision loss to Ecuadorian finisher, Vera before the beginning of a championship doubleheader, before he was finished in the third round with a brutal front kick knockout.

The defeat came as Edgar’s second consecutively since his move to the bantamweight ranks back in August of last year where he managed to take Fight of the Night honors in a close split decision victory over Pedro Munhoz in a UFC Apex facility headliner.

1-4 in his last five UFC outings, Edgar brought an end to his extended featherweight run with a pair of losses to then-champion, Max Holloway, and a knockout loss to former title challenger, Chan Sung Jung. Before his loss to Vera on Saturday last weekend, the New Jersey veteran suffered a brutal 28-second flying knee knockout loss to recent interim bantamweight title chaser, Cory Sandhagen. 

Derek Brunson calls for Frankie Edgar to end his MMA career following recent UFC 268 loss

Reacting to Edgar’s loss Vera at UFC 268, upcoming UFC 270 main card feature, the veteran middleweight mainstay, Brunson claimed that he hoped Edgar would now hang up his gloves off the back of another knockout defeat — or at least limit his future to just one last fight.

“Random thought,” Derek Brunson tweeted. “I do not want to see Frankie Edgar compete in MMA anymore. At best once more. He carried the sport for years, former UFC champ, competed at 3 different weight classes. He has nothing else to prove or achieve. A complete legend of the sport. (praying hands emoji) #JustMyOpinion“

Over the course of his decorated UFC career — which began all the way back in February 2007, and has included a lightweight title triumph against former two-weight champion, B.J. Penn. Scoring three successful title defenses, Edgar has defeated the likes of Cub Swanson, Jeremy Stephens, Chad Mendes, Urijah Faber, Charles Oliveira, Gray Maynard, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, Spencer Fisher, and upcoming headliner, Yair Rodriguez to name a few. 

As for North Carolina native, Derek Brunson, the streaking contender is slated to feature on the main card of UFC 270 in January in a potential title-eliminator against fellow contender, Jared Cannonier. 

EXCLUSIVE | Chris Daukaus Willing To Serve As Backup For UFC 270

Chris DaukausChris Daukaus may be getting ready to take on his first UFC main event against Derrick Lewis next month, but he’s already thinking about what’s ahead and is willing to be the UFC 270 backup. Daukaus is scheduled to face Lewis in a five-round UFC Fight Night main event on Dec. 18, in a massive […]

Chris Daukaus

Chris Daukaus may be getting ready to take on his first UFC main event against Derrick Lewis next month, but he’s already thinking about what’s ahead and is willing to be the UFC 270 backup.

Daukaus is scheduled to face Lewis in a five-round UFC Fight Night main event on Dec. 18, in a massive fight for the heavyweight division. But, he’s ready and willing to make a quick turnaround and serve as the backup for UFC 270’s heavyweight title bout between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane.

It’s becoming more common for UFC fighters to volunteer to be backup fighters for main events, even though it’s seldomly been used for big pay-per-view cards. Although he has to get past a tough test in Lewis, Daukaus is willing to take the next step necessary to ingratiate himself into the title conversation.

During a recent interview with LowKickMMA’s James Lynch, expressed his interest in being the backup to Gane vs. Ngannou.

“I have nothing going on in January,” Daukaus said. “You call me and get me a flight out to Las Vegas, and I’ll be able to weigh in just in case.”

The heavyweight title picture has been a bit confusing this year after Ngannou won the belt over Stipe Miocic in March before an interim title bout was scheduled promptly afterward. Lewis would go on to lose the interim title to Gane and set up a matchup between him and Daukaus.

Daukaus has won five in a row and is undefeated during his short tenure in the UFC. Before signing with the promotion, he enjoyed a variety of success in regional promotions such as Cage Fury and Ring of Combat.

If UFC president Dana White needs someone if the UFC 270 card needs saving, Daukaus sounds ready to step in right away.

What do you think Chris Daukaus’ ceiling is in the UFC’s heavyweight division?

Evloev vs. Topuria Scrapped From UFC 270, Topuria Calls Out Ige

The battle of two undefeated featherweights Movsar Evloev and Ilia Topuria has been canceled after Evloev was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Soon after news of Evloev’s withdrawal became known, Topuria was immedia…

Ilia Topuria

The battle of two undefeated featherweights Movsar Evloev and Ilia Topuria has been canceled after Evloev was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Soon after news of Evloev’s withdrawal became known, Topuria was immediately hot on the trail in pursuit of a replacement.

“Bad news! @MovsarUFC is out. We already knew that this was gonna happen. @Dynamitedan808, are you up for a fight? Let me know ASAP and if you are down, hope to see you January 22. Let’s go!”

Dan Ige is currently ranked #9 in the division while Topuria is unranked, so the callout certainly makes sense for Topuria, who is coming off a vicious KO win over Ryan Hall at UFC 264.

The 24-year-old was ranked 15th at featherweight not too long ago and is 3-0 in the UFC. He made his debut on short notice back on Fight Island in October of 2020 as he beat Youssef Zalal by decision. In his next fight, he scored another highlight-reel vicious KO over Damon Jackson last December.

Movsar Evloev (15-0) last fought back at UFC 263 as he beat Hakeem Dawdou by decision it was his fifth fight inside the Octagon. The 27-year-old gas beat Nik Lentz by split decision, Mike Grundy, Enrique Barzola, and Seung Woo Choi, all by decision in the UFC. He’s currently the 13th-ranked featherweight and is the former M-1 bantamweight champion.

There is no word on if Topuria will remain on the card as he wishes or if this fight will be rescheduled.

With this cancellation the updated UFC 270 lineup is as follows:

  • UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout: Francis Ngannou (c) vs. Ciryl Gane
  • UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
  • Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier
  • Greg Hardy vs. Aleksi Oleinik
  • Wellington Turman vs. Rodolfo Vieira
  • Michel Pereira vs. Andre Fialho
  • Poliana Botelho vs. Ji Yeon Kim
  • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Cody Stamann
  • Trevin Giles vs. Michael Morales
  • Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
  • Raoni Barcelos vs. Victor Henry
  • Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
  • Tony Gravely vs. Saimon Oliveira

Continue Reading Evloev vs. Topuria Scrapped From UFC 270, Topuria Calls Out Ige at MMA News.