Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has claimed that Nate Diaz has very little chance of defeating Khamzat Chimaev if the duo meet this summer after a leaked UFC 276 pairing between the two surfaced earlier this week, furthermore insisting that Diaz could not knock out an opponent in the Octagon, even accidentally. Justin […]
Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje has claimed that Nate Diaz has very little chance of defeating Khamzat Chimaev if the duo meet this summer after a leaked UFC 276 pairing between the two surfaced earlier this week, furthermore insisting that Diaz could not knock out an opponent in the Octagon, even accidentally.
Justin Gaethje, the current #1 ranked contender in the lightweight shark tank, is scheduled to headline UFC 274 this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona – challenging for undisputed divisional spoils in a main event feature against champion, Charles Oliveira.
Earning his second chance to land undisputed gold under the banner of the UFC, Gaethje most recently opened the main card of UFC 268 back in November at Madison Square Garden, handing common-opponent, Michael Chandler a unanimous decision loss over the course of three gruelling rounds in the consensus Fight of the Year.
Justin Gaethje also had some choice words for the career of Nate Diaz
Sharing his thoughts on a potential pairing of Diaz and the aforenoted, undefeated welterweight contender, Chimaev during his media availability earlier this week, Gaethje does not envision a successful outing for the Stockton native against unbeaten bruiser, Chimaev.
“If he’s (Nate Diaz) fighting Khamzat (Chimaev), I’ve gotta give him some credit,” Justin Gaethje told assembled media. “I don’t know, of course not (Diaz finding success against Chimaev). You know, again, I’m a fan of the sport because anything can happen at any time, but he doesn’t – what’s he gonna – he’s not gonna out-wrestle him, he doesn’t have – he doesn’t even have the power to shut someone’s light out, on accident, you know. So, no – no chance, he has a zero per cent chance. One per cent chance.”
Earlier this week, Diaz, who has continually campaigned for his release from the UFC or the booking of his final contracted fight – has taken shots at both Gaethje and the above mentioned, Oliveira – questioning how Gaethje managed to get choked from a mounted triangle against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“That motherf*ckers lost over 15 times, I mean, come on,” Justin Gaethje said of Nate Diaz. “So for him to be criticizing me for one loss, I found it, funny. And I think he’s jealous – ‘cause he’s done. He’ll never be here, he’ll never be fighting for a world championship, he’ll never achieve a world championship. In the history books, I’m already a world champion, you know, and I don’t like it, and I don’t accept it. I need to make it right on Saturday, but I’ll be in the Hall of Fame. He should be too, but (it’s) just cause the fans love him.”
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card! UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary…
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card!
UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 5:30 PM. The event will take place from The Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the main event, reigning champion Charles Oliveira will defend the lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in what will be Gaethje’s second attempt at UFC gold after falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020. The co-main event will see another title fight in a rematch between strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and her opponent, Carla Esparza.
Prior to the title fights, fan-favorites Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson will lock horns in a bout that could very easily steal the show.
Also on the main card, we could very well be seeing the final Octagon appearance for the loser of Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon, or perhaps even both veterans. You won’t want to miss this monumental battle between two of the UFC’s most familiar faces.
Additionally, there will be a light heavyweight rematch between two other UFC veterans when Ovince Saint Preux takes on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
UFC 274 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 274 updates. I, Harvey Leonard, and Andrew Starc have provided our picks for you below.
Here is the full main card for UFC 274:
UFC Lightweight Championship Bout: Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Strawweight Championship Bout: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Carla Esparza
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone, Joe Lauzon
Clyde Aidoo: Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon are both long-toothed veterans of the UFC. With the two combatants being 39 and 37 years old respectively and both losing more than winning in recent years, many fighters could adopt the belief that this is anyone’s fight. I don’t quite think that’s the case.
The one difference that stands out to me between these two men’s records is the level of competition. Cerrone has continued to face ranked fighters and former champions while Lauzon has primarily tangled with fellow unranked veterans, such as his UFC 274 opponent Cerrone.
That said, I’m not looking at this fight from a “Who’s form is currently worse as of late?” perspective. I’m judging this fight the same way I would if these two were paired together at any point in their careers: which is that Lauzon is unlikely to join the list of names like Conor McGregor, Darren Till, and Justin Gaethje in putting away Cerrone early.
If that’s the case, Cerrone will warm up. And once Cerrone warms up, I believe him to be better than Lauzon just about everywhere. (Prediction: Donald Cerrone)
Harvey Leonard: Hopefully this is an entertaining fight for both men to bow out with. While “Cowboy” is inherently the better fighter, he certainly can’t take shots like he used to, and it’s clear that pressure has become his enemy. Although I’d expect a long fight to benefit Cerrone, it seems clear that Lauzon knows that and is targeting a quick start. With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if an aggressive Lauzon hurts and finishes “Cowboy” relatively early. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Andrew Starc: A victory for Donald Cerrone here will be his 24th in the UFC, making him the winningest fighter in the promotion’s history. But it would also be his first in seven fights. Can the 39-year-old Cerrone get back in the win column? I don’t think so.
The wear and tear “Cowboy” has sustained over his career has well and truly caught up to him. While Joe Lauzon hasn’t fought since 2019, and his résumé isn’t nearly as impressive as Cerrone’s, I think he gets it done. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Consensus: 2-1 Lauzon
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Getty Images
Clyde Aidoo: With Rua only losing one fight out of his last four Octagon appearances while Saint Preux has dropped three of his last four, Rua has looked better in recent years. However, we haven’t seen Rua compete since 2020 and he’s now hit 40, so it’s difficult to project how he’ll look in his return this weekend.
For me, this fight is a toss-up. And when that’s the case, I’ll go with the fighter who’s already proven he could beat the opponent at hand, in this case, that would be Saint Preux. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Harvey Leonard: I think this one will be an uphill battle for Rua from the start. While “OSP” is on a poor run of form, losing consecutive fights via KO, a finish on the feet is unlikely to be a worry for him this time around. It’s always tough to predict when two veterans collide, but it seems Saint Preux just has more left in him. If he can avoid being bogged down by Rua’s wrestling, I’d expect a TKO or KO to come à la “OSP” vs. “Shogun” 1, or a submission when a hurt Rua changes levels. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Andrew Starc: When these two met in 2014, Ovince St. Preux got the KO in just 34 seconds. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge for the duo since then, however. Saint Preux has lost three of his last four, with his last victory coming against Alonzo Menifield in 2020.
Maurício Rua, meanwhile, has been inactive since November 2020, when he lost via submission to Paul Craig. St. Preux is the betting favorite, but I’m predicting the 40-year-old Rua will wind back the clock and get the win. (Prediction: Maurício Rua)
Consensus: 2-1 Saint Preux
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler
Clyde Aidoo: If this fight took place three years ago, I’d side with El Cucuy with a decent level of confidence. But it’s difficult to do so in 2022.
I can see Chandler winning one of two ways. He could use his speed advantage and explosiveness to potentially run through Ferguson, whose chin and durability may never be the same again after being brutally pummeled by Gaethje two years ago. Or, Chandler could put his wrestling background to good use against Ferguson, as Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush did before him.
Ferguson claims to have gone back to his wrestling roots in preparation for this fight. If his takedown defense holds up and he can weather the first-round storm of Chandler, then this fight could very well be Ferguson’s to win. But those are two big ifs that are hard to bank on in 2022. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Harvey Leonard: As much as this is a fan-friendly bout that should deliver entertainment, it’s also a crucial one. So far in the UFC, Chandler’s stock hasn’t dropped in defeat. Against Oliveira, he was moments away from the title, and his part in a FOTY with Gaethje certainly maintained his reputation.
This time, defeat would be damaging for “Iron.” Given the manner of Ferguson’s recent performances and the names he’s lost to, a setback to “El Cucuy” would create a sizable gap between Chandler and the top contenders. With that said, I expect him to prioritize the win over entertainment this time. If that is the case, he’ll have the tools to grind out the victory, something he’ll know having seen Ferguson’s last two losses. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Andrew Starc: Tony Ferguson’s recent slump in form isn’t news to anyone, and at 38 years old, many believe he’s lost a step. But I don’t think he’s seen his last victory in the UFC. “El Cucuy’s” unorthodox style, phenomenal work rate, and legendary gas tank could pose problems for Michael Chandler, who’s coming off back-to-back losses.
Yes, Chandler could very well put a Justin Gaethje-style beat-down on Ferguson, but I’m picking Tony for the upset win. (Prediction: Tony Ferguson)
Consensus: 2-1 Chandler
Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza
Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza
Clyde Aidoo: Earlier, I mentioned that if a fight is a pick-em, I’m going to side with the fighter who has proven they can defeat the opponent. However, I’m not siding with Esparza here. The reason? This fight isn’t a pick-em, and it is no longer 2014.
Nope, Namajunas is now a much more patient, versatile, and lethal foe for Esparza. I can imagine her staying at a distance where she could pick Esparza apart or knock her out. Mind you, Namajunas has managed to finish two of the toughest women in the entire company: Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili. So finishing Esparza is certainly a plausible outcome for the UFC 274 co-main event.
Esparza has made her improvements but far more subtly and incrementally than Namajunas has. Ultimately, her path to victory is still to outwrestle Namajunas as she did eight years ago. Only now, Namajunas poses an even bigger threat on the mat and is much more likely to employ tactics to stop the fight from even making it there. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Harvey Leonard: Esparza’s form since 2018 has been something to behold, and her pressure wrestling and ground and pound are dangerous for anyone. And given the fact Zhang managed seven takedowns at UFC 268, I think it’s safe to say that Esparza will manage the feat at some point.
However, “Thug Rose” has great scrambles and I can’t see her being kept down long enough for “Cookie Monster” to unload with strikes or work to a finish. When the fight is on the feet, Namajunas should have a clear edge, even if it is just by landing more impactful strikes in low-volume frames. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Andrew Starc: Rose Namajunas is of course a completely different fighter from the one who lost via submission to Carla Esparza in 2014. After avenging her loss to Jéssica Andrade, then regaining and defending her strawweight title against Weili Zhang, the 29-year-old looks virtually unbeatable.
Esparza, meanwhile, is on a five-fight win streak and possesses the wrestling to pose problems for Namajunas. I’m picking Esparza to get the upset victory and regain the title she lost in 2015. (Prediction: Carla Esparza)
Consensus: 2-1 Namajunas
Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje
Clyde Aidoo: This is a tough one. My mind says Gaethje wears out Oliveira on the feet after using his wrestling background and takedown defense to keep the fight standing. Oliveira may be a submission guru but he’s no Khabib when it comes to taking the fight to the mat.
My gut tells me that Oliveira has arguably more ways to win a fight than anyone on the entire UFC roster right now and that his confidence and sly knack for creating a path to victory is second to none and will be on display yet again on Saturday.
So which will I side with? I’m sorry, but 10 straight victories bleed straight from my gut, into my brain, and finally onto my pick. It’s pretty hard to bet against that track record.
“Do Bronx” is every bit as slick as he is talented, so I’m going to side with his veteran intangibles and prime form to get it done someway, maybe when we least expect it and successfully defending his title for the second time. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Harvey Leonard: At UFC 269, I predicted that should Poirier hurt Oliveira as Chandler did, he’d have the power and finishing instinct to put “Do Bronx” away. Having been proven wrong by the Brazilian, I’m not sure there’s any basis to doubt the toughness and grit of the current iteration of Oliveira. With that in mind, and should he survive any hairy moments, I think the champ’s well-rounded game will take him to a second successful title defense, probably via submission.
Gaethje’s threat on the feet can never be counted out and a knockout could always happen, but with Oliveira’s development in the standup realm, coupled with his BJJ talents, I expect it’ll take a grappling specialist like Dariush or Makhachev to dethrone him, not the striking-heavy game of “The Highlight.” (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Andrew Starc: Written off many a time, Charles Oliveira continues to prove why he’s the best in the lightweight division. He’s now won his last 10 fights, and only one of those victories came by decision. But can he deal with the KO power of Gaethje?
While Oliveira was almost put away by the similarly heavy-handed Michael Chandler, I think he can weather the storm from Gaethje and get the fight to the ground. Despite Gaethje’s impressive wrestling, I’m picking the Brazilian to extend his UFC submission record to 16. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Consensus: 3-0 Oliveira
That’ll do it for our UFC 274 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 274 undercard below.
UFC 274 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+ 8:00 PM ET)
Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams
Macy Chiasson vs. Norma Dumont
Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+ 5:30 PM)
Danny Roberts vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto
Kleydison Rodrigues vs. CJ Vergara
Ariane Carnelossi vs. Loopy Godinez
Fernie Garcia vs. Journey Newson
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com Saturday for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 274!
Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has distanced himself from a future showdown with fellow former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier – insisting that the Lafayette striker flaked on a potential fight in the past, and claimed he was “full of sh*t”. Tony Ferguson, who features in a high-profile main card bout at UFC […]
Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has distanced himself from a future showdown with fellow former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier – insisting that the Lafayette striker flaked on a potential fight in the past, and claimed he was “full of sh*t”.
Tony Ferguson, who features in a high-profile main card bout at UFC 274 this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona – attempts to snap a three-fight losing skid as he meets with one-time title challenger, Michael Chandler.
Tony Ferguson was previously expected to fight Dustin Poirier in October 2020 on ‘Fight Island’
Back in October of 2020, however, Ferguson, who had just seen his record-setting 12-fight winning streak in the division snapped by UFC 274 headliner, Justin Gaethje, was expected to co-headline UFC 254 against Poirier, until the latter confirmed that the bout had been shelved due to financial issues with the organization.
The Oxnard native most recently featured on the main card of UFC 262 back in May of last year in a matchup against Kings MMA staple. Beneil Dariush, suffering a rather one-sided unanimous decision loss to the surging contender.
Over the course of this week on his official Twitter account, Poirier answered a fan question, asking if he would fight the victor of this weekend’s clash between Ferguson and Chandler this weekend, he replied, “prolly (probably) so”.
Ferguson, on the other hand, however, appears to be more than over on the thought of fighting his fellow former interim gold holder in the future, claiming that Poirier is “full of sh*t”.
“He’s (Dustin Poirier) full of sh*t,” Tony Ferguson told assembled media ahead of UFC 274. “I’m gonna be real, he said he wanted to fight me many times, and I even gave the opportunity, and then he wanted more money to be able to fight.”
“The kid’s full of sh*t,” Tony Ferguson explained. “You know, nothing against Poirier or any of the other fighters, but I’m worried about (Michael) Chandler. We prepared for this guy for UFC 274 for many, many weeks. I brought in some good, smart people to be able to structure all the stuff and all the talent that I have, to be able to go out there and go get this victory on Saturday night. I’m a different animal.”
In his most recent professional victory, Ferguson managed to stop Donald Cerrone with a second round doctor’s stoppage win back in June 2019 in a Fight of the Night classic.
UFC President Dana White believes that the UFC 274 main card opener between Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon has career-ending stakes. This weekend will see two veterans collide on the pay-per-view main stage in Phoenix, Arizona. On one side will be fan favorite Cerrone, who has fought a who’s who of UFC stars since arriving…
UFC President Dana White believes that the UFC 274 main card opener between Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon has career-ending stakes.
This weekend will see two veterans collide on the pay-per-view main stage in Phoenix, Arizona. On one side will be fan favorite Cerrone, who has fought a who’s who of UFC stars since arriving in the promotion in 2011.
From Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje to Charles Oliveira and Eddie Alvarez, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressive résumé name-wise than that of “Cowboy.”
His opponent, known as “J-Lau,” will be returning from a near-three-year layoff this Saturday. The Massachusetts native, who has shared the cage with the likes of Clay Guida, Al Iaquinta, Anthony Pettis, and Kenny Florian, hasn’t appeared since snapping a three-fight losing skid by TKOing Jonathan Pearce at UFC on ESPN 6 in 2019.
We've got a throwback battle between 2 legends this weekend.
With 97 professional fights and 34 combined years of cage time between them, the UFC 274 opener is the very definition of a ‘clash of veterans’. And for Dana White, it should represent the final outing for one of the long-time UFC athletes.
Cerrone enters his 38th UFC fight riding a torrid run of form that’s seen him unable to secure a victory in his last six appearances. That period has seen him finished four times via strikes. Lauzon, meanwhile, lost a trio of consecutive fights against Guida, Stevie Ray, and Chris Gruetzemacher before rebounding against Pearce.
With 14 knockout losses between them, it’s safe to say that another stoppage loss for either man should perhaps signal the end, especially when it’s considered that this bout falls just one short of the record for combined losses between two opposing UFC fighters.
While their bout this weekend is set to be an entertaining one in spite of their late-career declines, the extra stakes of a retirement match will add an intriguing aspect to the PPV opener.
Do you agree with Dana White? Should the loser of Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon retire following UFC 274?
UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje believes Charles Oliveira holds some ‘false confidence’ which he looks to counter on at UFC 274. The former interim UFC lightweight champion is aiming to become the undisputed champ for the first time against Oliveira this Saturday. Gaethje has already had one opportunity missed at capturing the belt having fallen to…
UFC lightweight Justin Gaethje believes Charles Oliveira holds some ‘false confidence’ which he looks to counter on at UFC 274.
The former interim UFC lightweight champion is aiming to become the undisputed champ for the first time against Oliveira this Saturday.
Gaethje has already had one opportunity missed at capturing the belt having fallen to defeat in his attempt at unifying interim status against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in 2020.
Now the American faces another submission specialist who will be looking to add an additional title defense to his reign as champion against the man many observe as the dark horse of the division.
The challenger to Oliveira is unconvinced with the UFC lightweight champion’s belief in himself, declaring it “false confidence.” Gaethje was asked what makes him have such an honest assessment of his performance, with the 33-year-old taking the opportunity to fire a low blow at his opponent.
“I think it’s the easiest thing to do,” said Gaethje. “If you have to create something, for one, they’re creating a false confidence and a false bravado. It’s the worst thing you can do in there. Like, again, that’s what I’m counting on (at UFC 274). A portion of his confidence is false right now, and I know that. That’s because I’ve seen it and that’s because it’s in him.”
A lot will be made of the Brazilian’s chin in the lead up to UFC 274 having been dropped in his two previous title fights. Despite those occurrences, Oliveira would go on to win on both occasions.
Yet with the UFC lightweight champion facing another ruthless striker, could the power of Gaethje be too much for Oliveira to handle? The challenger may sense some fear in the eyes of his opponent, which he highlights as some self-doubt.
Although, Gaethje is known for trying to get into the heads of his opponents in the build-up to his fights, with this being another case of that. ‘The Highlight’ has even offered some free advice to Oliveira on how to beat him in the stand-up.
Do you agree with Gaethje’s comments? Does Oliveira hold some ‘false confidence’?
Justin Gaethje is giving Charles Oliveira free advice on how to beat him in the standup game this weekend. Gaethje will challenge Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 273 on pay-per-view (PPV) this weekend, Saturday May 7, 2022, from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. “The Highlight” spoke to…
Justin Gaethje is giving Charles Oliveira free advice on how to beat him in the standup game this weekend.
Gaethje will challenge Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title in the main event of UFC 273 on pay-per-view (PPV) this weekend, Saturday May 7, 2022, from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. “The Highlight” spoke to Yahoo! Sports ahead of the bout, and during the interview, gave Oliveira insight into how to best him standing up.
Referring to his last fight with Michael Chandler, Gaethje noted that, had Chandler stuck to the leg kick, it may have ultimately lost him the fight. He suggests Oliveira adopts a similar gameplan.
“If [Chandler] would’ve stayed on the leg kick, then it would’ve been maybe a different fight. If Charles wants to kick me in the leg, that’s probably his best option on the feet.”
This will be Gaethje’s second shot at a UFC title in his last three fights. He previously earned a shot at the title in October of 2020 against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje came up short via submission, snapping his four-fight win streak.
Oliveira captured the vacant 155-pound title by besting Michael Chandler in May of 2021. The Brazilian succesfully retained his title over Dustin Poirier this past December via submission. Now, he looks to make his second title defense against Gaethje, and increase his current win streak to 11 fights.
Who are you picking in the UFC 274 main event between Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira? Sound off in the comments below!
Former interim UFC lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson has distanced himself from a future showdown with fellow former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier – insisting that the Lafayette striker flaked on a potential fight in the past, and claimed he was “full of sh*t”. Tony Ferguson, who features in a high-profile main card bout at UFC […]