Tag: UFC 281

Ex-champion Frankie Edgar officially notifies the UFC of his retirement from active competition

Frankie EdgarFormer undisputed UFC lightweight champion and multiple-time featherweight title challenger, Frankie Edgar, has officially notified the organization of his immediate retirement from professional mixed martial arts and active competition, calling time on an illustrious 17-year professional career. Edgar, 41, a former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, last featured professionally earlier this month at UFC 281 in […]

Frankie Edgar

Former undisputed UFC lightweight champion and multiple-time featherweight title challenger, Frankie Edgar, has officially notified the organization of his immediate retirement from professional mixed martial arts and active competition, calling time on an illustrious 17-year professional career.

Edgar, 41, a former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, last featured professionally earlier this month at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in New York. 

Drawing the surging, Chris Gutierrez in his billed retirement fight, Edgar, a native of Toms River, suffered his third consecutive knockout loss, dropping a first round defeat courtesy of a brutal step-in knee strike at the bantamweight limit. 

Frankie Edgar confirms his retirement from MMA to the UFC

Confirming his intentions to call time on his career ahead of his fight against the Boston-born Gutierrez, Frankie Edgar has previously suffered high-profile division knockout defeats against Marlon Vera, and one-time interim title chaser, Cory Sandhagen. 

As per MMA Fighting reporter, Damon Martin this Monday evening, Edgar has since notified the promotion of his intention to retire from professional mixed martial arts with immediate effect.

“Frankie Edgar officially notified the UFC of his retirement,” Martin tweeted. “UFC officials confirmed on Monday, It might seem like a formality but some fighters “retire” but stay in the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) testing pool, etc. This cements Frankie’s retirement, at least where the UFC is concerned.” 

Retiring from the sport boasting a 24-11-1 professional career, in his final professional win, Edgar defeated Pedro Munhoz back in August 2020 in a split decision win at the bantamweight limit. 

Winning the undisputed lightweight title back in 2010, Edgar defeated then-champion, B.J. Penn – before scoring a total three successful defenses during his championship run.

Over the course of his memorable professional career, the future Hall of Fame shoo-in has landed wins over the likes of Jim Miller, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn, Gray Maynard, Charles Oliveira, Cub Swanson, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Jeremy Stephens, and Yair Rodriguez.

Zhang Weili eyes UFC title superfight with Valentina Shevchenko: ‘I think it would be a great fight’

Zhang WeiliRecently minted undisputed UFC strawweight titleholder, Zhang Weili has suggested a move to flyweight division in search of a second Octagon championship – in the form of a superfight against fellow champion, Valentina Shevchenko.  Co-headlining UFC 281 earlier this month at Madison Square Garden, Hebei native, Weili became just the second third-time strawweight champion in […]

Zhang Weili

Recently minted undisputed UFC strawweight titleholder, Zhang Weili has suggested a move to flyweight division in search of a second Octagon championship – in the form of a superfight against fellow champion, Valentina Shevchenko. 

Co-headlining UFC 281 earlier this month at Madison Square Garden, Hebei native, Weili became just the second third-time strawweight champion in Octagon antiquity, defeating Carla Esparza with an eventual second round rear-naked choke victory submission triumph.

As for Shevchenko, the Krygzstan native defeated contender Taila Santos in a close and debated split decision triumph at UFC 275 back in June in Singapore. The victory marked Shevchenko’s seventh successful title defense at the flyweight limit since her 2018 ascension to the throne. 

Linked with a potential return to the bantamweight limit herself in the form of a trilogy bout against two-weight champion, Amanda Nunes, many have called for Shevchenko to headline January’s UFC 283 card in Brazil against the Bahia native, however, an official headlining bout for the promotion’s return to the Jeunesse Arena has yet to be determined.

Zhang Weili weighs up Valentina Shevchenko superfight in the future

Welcoming a flyweight division excursion in the form of a title showdown against Shevchenko, Weili claimed that matchup between the two would make for a “great fight”.

“I think it would be a great fight,” Zhang Weili told China Daily. “It’s one I’ve considered before. She (Valentina Shevchenko) is a very versatile fighter with a complete package. I hope it can be arranged whenever UFC sees fit.” (Transcribed by SportsKeeda)

The current #3 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter, Weili earned her title fight with Esparza off the back of a stunning rematch win over former titleholder, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, stopping the Pole with a spectacular second round spinning back fist knockout on the main card of Shevchenko’s win over Santos.

Dan Hooker Recalls “Superfan” Turning Up To CKB House With Pizza

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has recalled an interesting interaction the City Kickboxing team had prior to this past weekend’s pay-per-view. On Saturday night, Hooker returned to 155 pounds at UFC 281, opening the main card against rising…

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has recalled an interesting interaction the City Kickboxing team had prior to this past weekend’s pay-per-view. On Saturday night, Hooker returned to 155 pounds at UFC 281, opening the main card against rising prospect Claudio Puelles. “The Hangman” was one of four CKB fighters who made the trip from New…

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Recalls “Superfan” Turning Up To CKB House With Pizza at MMA News.

Video: Watch The Biggest Highlights From UFC 281 In Slow Motion

One week ago today, UFC 281 took place from Madison Square Garden in New York City, and now you can relive the biggest moments in slow motion! In the main event, Israel Adesanya attempted to defend the middleweight title for the sixth ti…

One week ago today, UFC 281 took place from Madison Square Garden in New York City, and now you can relive the biggest moments in slow motion! In the main event, Israel Adesanya attempted to defend the middleweight title for the sixth time against his old kickboxing foe Alex Pereira. Pereira would uncrown Adesanya in somewhat controversial fashion,…

Continue Reading Video: Watch The Biggest Highlights From UFC 281 In Slow Motion at MMA News.

Michael Chandler opens up about loss to Dustin Poirier: “I sit here as a man today who just failed”

Michael ChandlerUFC lightweight warriors ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier delivered fans a high-octane slugfest at UFC 281 last Saturday night. Emanating from the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, fans in the arena and those watching around the world were treated to a lightweight war between Chandler and Poirier as part of the […]

Michael Chandler

UFC lightweight warriors ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier delivered fans a high-octane slugfest at UFC 281 last Saturday night.

Emanating from the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, fans in the arena and those watching around the world were treated to a lightweight war between Chandler and Poirier as part of the evening’s absolutely stacked night of fights. Needless to say, the 155-pound showdown did not disappoint. Delivering what many called the Round of the Year, Chandler and Poirier delivered an insane back-and-forth battle in the opening five minutes that nearly saw both men fall at one point.

In the end, Chandler would fall to ‘The Diamond’ via a third-round rear-naked choke. Taking to his YouTube channel, Chandler opened up about the loss to Poirier and his mindset after falling short once again inside the Octagon.

Fighting Makes Michael Chandler ‘Feel Alive’

“The greatest fighter of all time [Muhammad Ali] said that it was a good thing to lose. No matter what in life, when we are trying to accomplish something great. When you are stepping outside your comfort zone. When you are throwing yourself fully into something. Fully down a path. 100 percent invested in any endeavor. Any high-level endeavor. Any meaningful endeavor in life, you are going to encounter setbacks and you will most assuredly lose at some point.

“I sit here as a man today who just failed. A man who threw himself into the fire. A man who had a great opportunity. A great platform. A great crowd of witnesses and I fell short, but in my line of work and what I have chosen to do, what God has called on me to do, the path that I am walking down, stakes are high. The pain is aplenty. The danger is ever-present, but it makes me feel alive.”

With the defeat at UFC 281, Michael Chandler has lost three of his last four fights dropping his UFC record to 2-3 overall. It’s safe to say that Chandler will always have a home inside the Octagon thanks to his balls-to-the-wall style of fighting, but the losses are certainly not helping the former Bellator champion achieve his dream of capturing gold in the UFC.

With losses to Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier, what’s next for ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler?

Joe Rogan commends Israel Adesanya for his conduct following UFC 281 defeat: “The way he responded to that loss is better than anybody ever”

Joe RoganUFC commentator, Joe Rogan, has praised Israel Adesanya for the way he conducted himself following his defeat to Alex Pereira at UFC 281. Heading into the fifth and final round Adesanya was leading on all three judges’ scorecards and looked to be en route to securing another impressive title defense in the main event of […]

Joe Rogan

UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, has praised Israel Adesanya for the way he conducted himself following his defeat to Alex Pereira at UFC 281.

Heading into the fifth and final round Adesanya was leading on all three judges’ scorecards and looked to be en route to securing another impressive title defense in the main event of UFC 281.

However, in an eerily similar matter to one of the pair’s previous meetings when they faced each other in Kickboxing, Pereira was able to land the game-changing blow (this time multiple) which would ultimately daze ‘The Last Stylebender’ and force the referee, Marc Goddard, to step in and call the fight.

Questions surrounded the stoppage at the time with some considering it to have come too early in comparison to others, including teammate Dan Hooker, who believed the referee made the right decision and prevented the previously undefeated middleweight from taking any unnecessary damage.

How a champion responds to setbacks such as this provides us with a true telling of just how they are as individuals, and as Joe Rogan states, Israel Adesanya conducted himself in arguably the best way we have seen a former champion be.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan shared his view on the now-former champion’s actions and why he believed he conducted himself in such a graceful manner.

“Dude, the way he responded to that loss is better than anybody ever,” Rogan said on his podcast. “The dude shows up to the press conference with a f****** fur coat like a king. Dope-ass watch on and just says, ‘He got me.’ He basically said ‘the hunter is now the hunted, I’m coming after him, I’m going to find a way to beat that dude. I was on my way to beating him, and he got me.’

“He was honest about all of it. About how Pereira landed a bunch of calf kicks early on and f***** up his leg and he couldn’t move right. Those calf kicks have changed the game.”

Joe Rogan Praises Marc Goddard For UFC 281 Main-Event Stoppage

Having seen more than his fair share of fights throughout his career, it is reasonable to say that Joe Rogan is well-versed in understanding when a fight should or should not be stopped.

After discussing it on his podcast, the longstanding UFC commentator praised the main-event official, Marc Goddard, for what he perceived as a ‘good stoppage’.

“I don’t think Pereira was going to stop,” Joe Rogan said.

“He had more time, ‘Izzy’ was stationary and Pereira was gonna hit him with some big shots. We don’t need to see ‘Izzy’ with his eyes rolled back behind his head flat out unconscious. I think it was a good stoppage.

“I could see where he’d be upset about it, too. I could see where other fights have gone on longer and they have, but it’s a subjective call and Marc Goddard is one of the very best in the world. He’s top 2 or 3, he might be No. 2, I think Herb Dean’s No. 1. He was saying ‘Bring back Steve Mazzagatti.’ (laughs) Then he went on Andrew Schulz’s podcast on Monday, they were drinking, having fun. He handled it very, very well.” (Transcribed by MMAFighting)

Israel Adesanya now finds himself in a unique position within his weight division as he attempts to reclaim the title in which he held for so long. Not one to be pessimistic and dwell on the defeat, Adesanya instead is looking forward to once again becoming the hunter as he aims to return to the top of the middleweight division.

Who would you favour in a rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya?