Tag: UFC 294

Joe Rogan Left Stunned by Islam Makhachev’s Epic Head Kick KO at UFC 294: ‘I’m Just So Impressed’

Joe RoganJoe Rogan was in awe of Islam Makhachev after the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ finished featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski with a…

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan was in awe of Islam Makhachev after the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ finished featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski with a perfectly-timed head kick in the opening round of their UFC 294 headliner.

Eight months removed from their Fight of the Year contender at UFC 284, Islam Makhachev left no questions unanswered this time around has be managed to stop Alexander Volkanovski just past the three-minute mark of the opening round.

No longer traveling out of the country for UFC events, longtime commentator Joe Rogan watched the festivities unfold alongside friends including former heavyweight standout Brendan Schaub and comedian Bryan Callen. Needless to say, the popular podcaster was left stunned by Makhachev’s performance against one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the Octagon.

“Oh my God! He head kicked him,” Rogan said. “Wow! What a shocker. Who would have saw that coming? It was amazing. Shin to the dome, opened up a cut. It was perfect. Islam, man. He showed a bunch of new sh*t. That front kick, and he was throwing that kick to the body, and then he threw the same kick to the head.”

“I’m just so impressed that he won that way,” Rogan added. “He showed so much improvement. He really made adjustments because they must have trained for Volkanovski again, even though he wasn’t fighting Volkanovski (originally). I’m sure they went over all the different things that Volkanovski did, and what are the counters to those things, and he shut a lot of it down. He shut down that switch kick to the outside leg, throwing that front kick up the middle, set up the head kick.”

“He knocked (down) Oliveira in the last fight – remember, his striking was his weakest point. Now it’s f*cking as dangerous as anybody in the division. You knock out Volkanovski? Sh*t” (h/t MMA Junkie).

With Makhachev going two-up on Alexander Volkanovski, ‘The Great’ will likely return to his throne at 145 while the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ turns his attention back toward a loaded lightweight top-ten and potential matchups with his original UFC 294 opponent, Charles Oliveira, and/or current BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje.

Sean strickland rips Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 294, questions résumé: ‘He doesn’t deserve a title shot’

Sean Strickland claims Khamzat Chimaev hasn't earned a title fight against him after UFC 294Undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has claimed that while he is willing to defend his title against the undefeated,…

Sean Strickland claims Khamzat Chimaev hasn't earned a title fight against him after UFC 294

Undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland has claimed that while he is willing to defend his title against the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev next following his UFC 294 title eliminator victory, as far as he’s concerned the Chechen-finisher has yet to properly earned his title fight against him. 

Strickland, the newly-minted undisputed middleweight titleholder, won his championship spoils just last month in the main event of UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia, handing two-time champion, Israel Adesanya a shocking upset win in a unanimous decision success.

And offered the chance to defend his title in a short-notice turnaround at UFC 294 over the course of the weekend, Strickland turned down the opportunity to fight the undefeated Chimaev, with former welterweight champion and prior foe, Kamaru Usman, due to the short-notice of a potential clash.

Sean Strickland claims Khamzat Chimaev hasn’t earned title fight

Reacting to Chimaev’s close, majority decision win over common-opponent, Usman, Strickland claimed that while he had no issue with fighting the former next in his first attempted title defense, in his opinion, Chimaev had yet to earn a title fight.

“The only thing I like about (Khamzat) Chimaev is that he sells fights,” Sean Strickland told UFC Fight Pass’ Extra Rounds. “For some reason, people f*cking like him or don’t like him, I don’t know. To me, he’s a f*cking paycheck. He sells a lot of fights. People pay to watch but he f*cking hasn’t earned it [title fight].”

“He doesn’t f*cking deserve it but here we are,” Sean Strickland explained. “Give it to him. He sells a lot of fights. I’ll go f*cking fight the man for five rounds. But no, he has not earned it. He doesn’t f*cking deserve it and getting a decision with a welterweight off the couch does not f*cking earn it.” 

Following Strickland’s comments, Chimaev appeared to fire a warning shot at the incumbent, claiming he would likely finish him with relative ease if they eventually share the Octagon with each other. 

Would you like to see Sean Strickland fight Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 294?

Khamzat Chimaev issues warning to Sean Strickland after UFC 294 win: ‘You know how fast I can finish you’

Khamzat Chimaev vows to finish Sean Strickland in future UFC championship fightUndefeated middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to finish undisputed division champion, Sean Strickland in quickfire fashion if they…

Khamzat Chimaev vows to finish Sean Strickland in future UFC championship fight

Undefeated middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to finish undisputed division champion, Sean Strickland in quickfire fashion if they share the Octagon together next – after landing a title-eliminator victory over former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the co-main event of UFC 294 over the course of the weekend.

Chimaev, who made his long-anticipated return to the Octagon in the co-headliner of UFC 294 over the course of the weekend, turned in a close, majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28) triumph over former pound-for-pound number one, Usman, in the pair’s officially billed championship-eliminator bout.

And improving to 13-0 with his judging victory as a result, Chimaev has been lined up to fight the above-mentioned, Strickland in an undisputed middleweight title fight next. 

However, when and if that showdown takes place likely depends on the Chechnya native’s immediate availability, after he confirmed how he believed he fractured his right hand in the opening exchanges of his fight with Usman, limiting his ability to wrestle and grapple in the second and third rounds. 

Khamzat Chimaev vows to finish Sean Strickland in future fight

Weighing up the possibility of sharing the Octagon with Strickland in the future, undefeated contender, Chimaev has claimed he would make short work of the incumbent champion – and the former should know that.

“@SStricklandMMA you are next don’t worry you know haw (sic) fast I can finish you,” Khamzat Chimaev posted on his official X account. 

Winning undisputed middleweight gold back in September, Strickland turned in a stunning unanimous decision win over former two-time division champion, Israel Adesanya, scoring a spectacular upset win over the City Kickboxing staple in Sydney, Australia. 

Who wins in a future fight: Khamzat Chimaev or Sean Strickland?

Rafael Dos Anjos claims he can take title from Islam Makhachev in fight after UFC 294: ‘He knows that’

Rafael dos Anjos claims Islam Makhachev knows he can beat him after UFC 294The lightweight legend Rafael Dos Anjos is very confident that he could defeat Islam Makhachev inside the UFC octagon….

Rafael dos Anjos claims Islam Makhachev knows he can beat him after UFC 294

The lightweight legend Rafael Dos Anjos is very confident that he could defeat Islam Makhachev inside the UFC octagon.

3-2 in his last five, RDA is finding himself in crunch time at this stage of his career. With only a small handful of battles seemingly still possible, and not much time to get them done: Dos Anjos is faced with a late-career conundrum. He’s got to maximize the potential of the fights he does take, while also getting them done before Father Time can continue to work his magic.

At 38, RDA would be considered at the end of his prime in a division like the heavyweight division. At lightweight, or welterweight, 38 years of age is literally ancient. So, Dos Anjos must achieve whatever he’s looking to achieve before time runs out and he’s forced to retire. With all of the young, fearsome talent developing in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions: it’s only a matter of time before the general consensus favors a swift retirement by Rafael Dos Anjos.

So, it’s really of no surprise that the living legend is trying to sell a fight between him and the seemingly unstoppable lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Rafael Dos Anjos wants Islam Makhachev, Doesn’t think anybody else in the division could defeat him

Taking to social media platform, X, Rafael Dos Anjos shared his thoughts regarding a matchup between him and the lightweight champion. “Looking at lightweight rankings,” he began. “I don’t see anyone other than me to beat Islam and he knows that #UFC294.”

While this may seem extremely comical to anybody not completely oblivious to the sport: many forget to reflect on RDA’s resume. The man is a legend for a reason. RDA has never shied away from any tough matchup. He’s faced the most dangerous and brutal killers in multiple divisions and continues to do so even while he’s now reached an age that many consider very old for his division.

Even still, the warrior spirit of RDA shines through. He doesn’t want some scrub that he can obliterate and retire off of an impressive win. He wants a title shot against Islam Makhachev, the man who just knocked out the greatest featherweight to ever grace the division in Alexander Volkanovski.

While the chances of Rafael Dos Anjos getting any shot against Islam Makhachev are slim to none, the chance was there at one point. In fact, three times. So, it does make sense that RDA feels like he can defeat Makhachev. Few in the division have actually worked a full camp in dedication to a fight with the guy, let alone three times such as RDA has.

Who do you think would’ve won between a prime RDA compared to Islam Makhachev?

Video – Paulo Costa gets a in Brawl with Audience member at UFC 294: ‘I just saw his big forehead, I can’t miss’

paulo costaPaulo Costa gets into brawl while cageside at UFC 294 last night in Abu Dhabi.  While Costa had been…

paulo costa

Paulo Costa gets into brawl while cageside at UFC 294 last night in Abu Dhabi. 

While Costa had been pulled form his fight against Khamzat Chimaev, set for the co-main event of the UFC’s return to the Middle East, it didn’t stop him from brawling at the event. Social media showed the Brazilian throwing a right hand after a member of the crowd launched themselves at him while attempting to strike him. 

Costa had to withdraw from his fight with Chimaev after suffering a serious infection to his elbow after undergoing surgery. It’s unclear on when Costa is expected to return, and who he will face.

Paulo Costa reacts to cageside fight with audience member

Following the event, Costa took to his YouTube channel to give his side of the short scrap.

Motherf****r say this, show this to me,” Costa explained, Holding up his middle finger. “So I mock his face, and next time I come in the hallway, I saw him and wave to him. And when the guy is far from you he’s very brave. But when I came, he just came to talk but he tried ‘F U’ again, so I grab him and I pull him.” (H/T MMA Mania)

“And then some other guys pull, three other guys pull, jump the fence,” Costa continued. “So security came, and the guy that showed me his finger, he jumped me as well. I just saw his big forehead and man, I can’t miss that big head. Even with my arm, I bam in the forehead. Straight there. So that’s a good lesson for some that think just because I’m injury I can’t f**k you around. I will.”

Costa’s scheduled opponent, Chimaev, would defeat late replacement Kamaru Usman over the three rounds after the latter stepped in on 10 days notice. 

Paulo costa explains brawl via his YouTube channel

What would you like to see Paulo Costa do Next?

Kamaru Usman Believes extra two rounds could’ve made Difference at UFC 294: ‘I’m a championship fighter’

Kamaru Usman two extra rounds would've beaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 I'm a championship fighterKamaru Usman believes that an extra two rounds against Khamzat Chimaev could have helped earn him a victory. After…

Kamaru Usman two extra rounds would've beaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 I'm a championship fighter

Kamaru Usman believes that an extra two rounds against Khamzat Chimaev could have helped earn him a victory.

After a late withdrawal of Paulo Costa, Kamaru Usman stepped in on just 10 days notice, up a weight class, against one of the UFC’s most fierce up-and-comers. After surviving a dominant first round, Usman produced a spirited effort against Khamzat Chimaev and would make the fight competitive. 

Media scorecards varied massively, having it Usman, Chimaev and draw, and whatever they may be Usman gave a very good account of himself. 

Kamaru Usman wanted championship rounds

Reflecting on the contest, Usman felt that an additional two rounds could have changed the outcome. Usman was taken down on several occasions, on a level which he has never had to deal with and talking to ESPN he felt as if the preparations played a key role in this.

“It’s miscalculations for me,” Usman said. “That’s part of camp. For me, I’m a wrestler, that’s why I love to wrestle. I love to really put time in in camp and really prepare for those positions, and I didn’t necessarily get the time to really put the grappling in to be able to stop those takedowns. I don’t give up positions like that. That’s the part that I’m mostly disappointed about is giving up those positions, because I didn’t have adequate time to prepare.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

The Nigerian Nightmare’ has spent the majority of the past few years preparing for and fighting in five round contested as the former welterweight champion.

“But that’s no excuse. He’s as advertised. He’s big, he’s strong, and — I’m a championship fighter,” Usman said. “I need those extra two rounds. I can’t start slow like that. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a three-round fight, but that kid’s as advertised. He’s tough and I give him all the props.”

What would you like to see Kamaru Usman do next?