Tag: UFC 287

Khamzat Chimaev mocks Alex Pereira following KO loss at UFC 287: ‘Goodnight for you’

Khamzat Chimaev Alex PereiraKhamzat Chimaev found it funny that the Sao Paulo menace Alex Pereira fell short at UFC 287 against his rival Israel Adesanya. After the fight, Chimaev did not hesitate to add insult to injury. Pereira and Adesanya held the main event slot at UFC 287 in a matchup that could be considered the most important […]

Khamzat Chimaev Alex Pereira

Khamzat Chimaev found it funny that the Sao Paulo menace Alex Pereira fell short at UFC 287 against his rival Israel Adesanya. After the fight, Chimaev did not hesitate to add insult to injury.

Pereira and Adesanya held the main event slot at UFC 287 in a matchup that could be considered the most important in either fighter’s career. It was the fourth time the two fighters would face each other in combat. At that point, the Sao Paulo striker was 3-0 against Adesanya, with two victories in kickboxing and one in MMA.

As the fight continued, things stayed reasonably close, but ‘Poatan’ did look to be in the lead. He took round one, and round two was much of the same until the fateful moment when Adesanya connected with two masterful right hands to send Pereira’s consciousness to a different dimension. It was a momentous occasion, and the crowd and fans across the world exploded with excitement to see such a split-second chain of events.

Khamzat Chimaev scoffs at Alex Pereira and Jorge Masvidal

From the sidelines, Chimaev thought things were pretty comical. He’d done a lot of talking in the lead up to UFC 287, and he sure didn’t hesitate to continue as the event drew to a close. On Twitter, he had a message for Pereira and Jorge Masvidal.

Alex Pereira, Jorge Masvidal, goodnight for you two,” Khamzat Chimaev snickered.

This wasn’t the first sly comment ‘Borz’ had for the Sao Paulo menace. Chimaev took to The MMA Hour to callout the then champion Pereira and claim he’d be an easy fight.

“He’s the most easy fight for me in the UFC,” Chimaev began (H/T BJ Penn.com). “Yeah, in my career, brother. First round. First minute. Easy. No punch, nothing. If Israel trains just wrestling in this training camp, he will beat him [Pereira] easily. The guy has zero wrestling. The UFC likes to push the guy, crazy guy, he’s always serious, that s***. I don’t like that guy.”

Things are not one-sided, however, as ‘Poatan’ insinuated that Khamzat Chimaev was a coward and ran away from opponents during a media day ahead of UFC 287.

“Whoever the UFC puts against me after this fight, I’ll be willing and ready,” Alex Pereira declared. “Talking about [Paulo Costa] ‘Borrachinha’ and [Robert] Whittaker, I respect them. I don’t see them talking trash at me, wanting to promote themselves. Chimaev ran from everybody.” 

Would a fight between Alex Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev be entertaining?

Donald Trump treated to front row seating at UFC 287, Dana White boasts of his ‘Love’ for MMA

Donald Trump, Dana White, UFC 287Former United States President Donald Trump is a mixed martial arts fanatic, according to UFC president Dana White. During the UFC 287 post-fight press conference, White revealed Trump’s familiarity with the UFC product. “So this guy calls me twice a month and will talk to me for an hour about fights that have happened since […]

Donald Trump, Dana White, UFC 287

Former United States President Donald Trump is a mixed martial arts fanatic, according to UFC president Dana White.

During the UFC 287 post-fight press conference, White revealed Trump’s familiarity with the UFC product.

“So this guy calls me twice a month and will talk to me for an hour about fights that have happened since we last talked,” White said. “And he knows everybody. He knows what they did and who they fought last. He’s a huge fight fan, loves this stuff.”

When asked who Trump’s favorite fighters were, White revealed that it was Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington, who have both been outspoken about their affiliation with the 45th President of the United States.

Donald Trump and the UFC Have Done Business Together

Trump, who was in attendance this past Saturday at UFC 287, has a longtime connection with the promotion that dates back to UFC 31. 

The event was held at the Trump Taj Mahal, now renamed the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in May 2001. 

White, who became UFC president the same year, credits Trump for his early involvement with the company. 

“Donald Trump has been such a good friend to me since the day I met him. When we bought this company, [it] had such a bad stigma attached to it in sport that we couldn’t even get into venues,” White told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson last September. “Donald Trump saw this thing could possibly be big and he offered us to come, do the event at the Trump Taj Mahal, cut us a very fair deal. We went down there and we did the two events with him. He showed up for the first fight, stayed ‘till the last fight.” 

Trump, who was joined by White, Kid Rock and Mike Tyson, watched all the fast-paced action cageside at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida.

GLORY Kickboxing star Cedric Doumbe sends cryptic message to Israel Adesanya after UFC 287 win

Cedric Doumbe sends cryptic message to Israel Adesanya after UFC 287 winThe world was watching when Israel Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 287, and so was Cedric Doumbe. The GLORY kickboxing phenom has been slated to make a run for the upper echelon of the MMA world, and it seems his eyes are locked on target to the elusive gold that is the UFC middleweight […]

Cedric Doumbe sends cryptic message to Israel Adesanya after UFC 287 win

The world was watching when Israel Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 287, and so was Cedric Doumbe. The GLORY kickboxing phenom has been slated to make a run for the upper echelon of the MMA world, and it seems his eyes are locked on target to the elusive gold that is the UFC middleweight championship.

Adesanya and Pereira gave the fans a war at UFC 287. The two had battled three times previously, with ‘Poatan’ defeating ‘The Last Stylebender’ each time. At UFC 287, however, things would end quite differently.

With his back to the cage getting rocked by vicious hooks to the body and head, Adesanya would suddenly lash out with a series of right hands that would send Pereira’s consciousness to a different world.

It was a momentous occasion. Adesanya had finally defeated a seemingly unbeatable foe, and the crowd and fans across the world rejoiced. However, a GLORY kickboxing phenom was watching, and if the rumors are true: he’s coming for Adesanya’s throne…

Cedric Doumbe rumored to be targeting transition to MMA, sends intriguing message to Israel Adesanya after UFC 287 knockout

Holding a stunning 12-3 record in one of the world’s most prestigious kickboxing organizations, Cedric Doumbe isn’t a man to take lightly. Holding the GLORY kickboxing welterweight championship, he’s not only defended it but defended it a multitude of times.

The rumors that he’s looking to transition to MMA aren’t even really rumors, per se. In fact, Cedric Doumbe has already competed in MMA. Not only that, but he currently stands at 3-0 and already had the offer to fight for the UFC with a fight scheduled and everything. Now, the fight would end up being canceled, but the opportunity was there.

With the success of Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya and the many that have come before them, one thing that has been established is that elite kickboxers do have a potential home in MMA. While grappling can take years, if not decades, to master: the art of defending a takedown is often aided by the tall and lanky build that most kickboxers tend to possess. Not only that, but their prowess on the feet often results in them leading the dance anyways. It’s known that wrestling is extremely hard to do when backing up, and with the forward pressure and confidence the elite kickboxers possess, they’re mostly not easy victims when it comes to the takedown.

This is all theoretical, of course, but if Cedric Doumbe were to join any division looking to attain a championship, then the middleweight division would be supremely ideal to try and tackle that goal.

As for the cryptic message he sent Adesanya, it was as simple as this:

Cedric Doumbe is watching, and if you’re in the know, you know what he’s insinuating with that simple emoticon. As for when and where Doumbe will make his long-awaited UFC appearance, this is yet to be disclosed. But rest easy, as it is likely to happen and may even take place this year.

Are you a fan of elite kickboxers making the move to MMA and the UFC?

Gilbert Burns accuses Jorge Masvidal of greasing, cheating at UFC 287: ‘That guy was freaking slippery’

Gilbert BurnsGilbert Burns is confident that he would have scored his 16th career finish had Jorge Masvidal not been suspiciously slippery during their co-main event clash on Saturday night. Nevertheless, ‘Durinho’ was victorious, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory and handing Masvidal his fourth-straight loss inside the Octagon. Following the contest, Gilbert Burns suggested that ‘Gamebred’ […]

Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns is confident that he would have scored his 16th career finish had Jorge Masvidal not been suspiciously slippery during their co-main event clash on Saturday night.

Nevertheless, ‘Durinho’ was victorious, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory and handing Masvidal his fourth-straight loss inside the Octagon. Following the contest, Gilbert Burns suggested that ‘Gamebred’ used an “old dog” trick to combat his grapple-heavy attack.

“I was really looking forward for a finish, but I think it was a good fight,” Burns said at the UFC 287 post-fight press conference. “I try to put on a show every single time. I was really, really looking forward to a finish. I hit him with good shots, took him down a couple of times – if I’m not wrong, I had three takedown attempts, and I finished all three. A lot of wrestlers didn’t do that. A lot of guys, high-level wrestlers that he fought had trouble taking him down, and I didn’t.

“I think I showed a lot of improvement, and that guy was freaking slippery. That’s an old dog, Miami trick with the lotion because he was so slippery. Wow” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Before stepping inside the Octagon, fighters go through a routine check to ensure they don’t have any unnatural substances on their body. However, there are ways around that according to Burns.

“100 per cent – I do believe [he was greasing],” Burns said. “I know those old tricks those guys do. You know what they do? They wake up on [Saturday] and they take the first shower and they put a lot of lotion on the body. The skin absorbs the lotion, and then after three hours, you do it again, and then after you do it again, and then after you do it again, and your body absorbs. Whenever you start sweating a lot, [the lotion comes out]. For sure he did that, 100 percent he did. I’m telling you.

“I’m not telling you maybe, 100 percent. He was so slippery. Whenever you guys are watching the highlights, you’re going to see his skin’s bright. That guy, I’ve got to give it up to this guy. He does all the tricks.”

Gilbert Burns is Demanding a UFC Welterweight Title Opportunity

Despite the alleged greasing, Gilbert Burns was happy with his performance. ‘Durinho’ landed four out of six takedown attempts with a total control time of 5:41 on his way to a second-straight victory. By comparison, Masvidal’s last opponent, Colby Covington, landed six of 15 total attempts during their UFC 272 scrap last year.

“100 percent [I could have finished him],” he said. “I didn’t feel him strong at all. I saw a lot of little details that he did, he has a couple of good answers to get up, but remember, I’m not going to say names, but he fought a couple high-level wrestlers, he lost those. I had three takedown attempts, I finished all three.

“Whenever I get on top, he didn’t get up. I think he got up one time. But that’s it. I dominated the guy on the floor. If I had less lotion, if I had a little bit less lotion, I think I could get it done.”

After having his hand raised, Gilbert Burns was quick to call for a welterweight title opportunity, hoping to face the winner of Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington. Though the UFC is yet to confirm a date or location for the proposed 170-pound title fight, Burns believes it’s practically a done deal at this point.

“I almost say it’s a done deal Colby [Covington] and Leon [Edwards] in London, if I’m not wrong, it’s almost a done deal – just the little details,” Burns said. “I’m going to be the backup. I’m not asking. I’m demanding that I’m going to [be the backup], because whenever they ask, any time the UFC gives me a call asking for an opponent, I say yes. Now I’m demanding that I’m going out there, I’m going to do my training camp for five rounds, go to London, I’ll be the backup, and I’m next in line to fight for the title.

“Otherwise, let me go. Let me do my thing. These guys are making a million dollars in other organizations. That’s it. I’m the backup for the next fight, and I’m fighting for the title next.”

Michael Chandler vows to beat Conor McGregor ‘Within an inch of his life’ in eventual UFC showdown

Michael Chandler beat Conor McGregor within inch of his life UFCTaking in last night’s UFC 287 action, top-5 ranked lightweight contender, Michael Chandler claims he will beat former duel-weight champion, Conor McGregor “within an inch of his career” ahead of their expected Octagon showdown later this annum. Chandler, the current #5 ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since December of last year, suffering an eventual […]

Michael Chandler beat Conor McGregor within inch of his life UFC

Taking in last night’s UFC 287 action, top-5 ranked lightweight contender, Michael Chandler claims he will beat former duel-weight champion, Conor McGregor “within an inch of his career” ahead of their expected Octagon showdown later this annum.

Chandler, the current #5 ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since December of last year, suffering an eventual third round rear-naked choke submission loss to former interim champion, Dustin Poirier.

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight and featherweight titleholder has hismelf been out of action since July 2021, fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to common-foe, Poirier.

Earlier this year, both Chandler and McGregor wrapped up filming on reality television show, The Ultimate Fighter 31, with the duo expected to fight at the welterweight limit before the close of this year.

Michael Chandler envisions dominant win over Conor McGregor

Both have predicted respective victories over each other since filming commenced, however, taking in festivities at UFC 287 last night, Chandler predicted a dominant win over McGregor when they finally face each other.

“These big fight nights always make me want to fight so bad,” Michael Chandler tweeted. “Can’t wait to go out there and beat @TheNotoriousMMA (Conor McGregor) within and inch of his career. #UFC287” 

Responding to Chandler’s prediction and claims, McGregor predicted his own one-sided win over the Missouri native, having previously claimed he would “slice through” the former Bellator lightweight titleholder.

“I sweat you, and all of you, not one iota,” Conor McGregor tweeted. 

Initially linked with a September matchup with the Crumlin native, McGregor has yet to return to the USADA testing pool or summit a drug test sample since the third quarter of 2021 – insisting he would only need to summit two negative test samples in order to make his Octagon return, rather than also spend a period of up to six months in the anti-doping agencies testing pool.

Alex Pereira addresses stunning UFC 287 KO defeat to Israel Adesanya, title loss: ‘Everything is okay’

Alex Pereira on UFC 287 title loss to Israel Adesanya everything is okaySuffering his first promotional loss in the main event of UFC 287 last night, now-former undisputed middleweight champion, Alex Pereira maintains all is well despite dropping a devastating second round knockout loss to arch-enemy, Israel Adesanya. Taking main event honors in Miami, Florida, Brazilian knockout artist, Pereira faltered in his first attempted defense of his […]

Alex Pereira on UFC 287 title loss to Israel Adesanya everything is okay

Suffering his first promotional loss in the main event of UFC 287 last night, now-former undisputed middleweight champion, Alex Pereira maintains all is well despite dropping a devastating second round knockout loss to arch-enemy, Israel Adesanya.

Taking main event honors in Miami, Florida, Brazilian knockout artist, Pereira faltered in his first attempted defense of his middleweight throne against Adesanya – having clinched the title against the latter back in November of last year at UFC 281 with his own knockout victory.

However, despite starting brightly in the opening round against Adesanya in last night’s championship rematch, and even forcing the latter back to the Octagon fence with a damaging leg kick and a barrage of strikes, Pereira was countered and dropped by Adesanya in the same exchange – suffering a heavy second round KO defeat.

Alex Pereira comments on UFC 287 title loss to Israel Adesanya

Seein his short-lived championship reign coming to a definite and crashing stop, Pereira insisted that “everything is okay” despite his blemish to Adesanya.

“Just passing by to say everything is ok!” Alex Pereira posted on his official Instagram. “I want to thank my family, my team and all of you who follow me and like my work.”

“Now I just need to rest to go back and continue with the plan that are already drawn,” Alex Pereira continued. “Thank you God.” 

Handing City Kickboxing striker, Adesanya three prior losses across their respective combat sports careers, it appears Pereira will not be awarded an immediate title rematch by the Nigerian-Kiwi – who claimed the rivalry between the two was now “settled”.

Furthermore, Pereira, a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion under the banner of GLORY Kickboxing, has been tipped to potentially test 205lbs waters in his Octagon return per UFC president, Dana White. 

Last night’s knockout defeat for Pereira came as the Brazilian’s first since dropping a professional mixed martial arts debut loss against Ouemuel Ottoni back in 2015.