Tag: UFC middleweight

‘Big’ John McCarthy Admonishes Israel Adesanya For Previous In-Octagon Lack Of Conduct: ‘I Would Have Taken Points From Him!’

“Big” John McCarthy recently took Israel Adesanya to task, criticizing the former UFC middleweight champion for his past lapses in Octagon etiquette. “The Last Stylebender” is slated to challenge reigning titleholder Dricus Du Plessis in the long-awaited main event of UFC 305, set to unfold this weekend at the iconic RAC Arena in Perth, Western […]

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“Big” John McCarthy recently took Israel Adesanya to task, criticizing the former UFC middleweight champion for his past lapses in Octagon etiquette.

“The Last Stylebender” is slated to challenge reigning titleholder Dricus Du Plessis in the long-awaited main event of UFC 305, set to unfold this weekend at the iconic RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Adesanya is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished middleweight champions in UFC history, boasting an impressive five successful title defenses. However, he’s just as well known for his flair and flamboyance inside and outside the Octagon, where his antics have become almost as famous as his fighting style.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi is equally notorious for his sharp-tongued trash talk, a skill he uses to rattle his opponents. A standout moment occurred at UFC 290 in July 2023, when Adesanya stormed into the Octagon and unleashed a tirade of profanity-laced insults at Du Plessis, ignited by the South African’s provocative comments questioning Adesanya’s African heritage.

Similarly, after his TKO win over Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September 2020, “The Last Stylebender” stirred controversy with his post-fight antics, delivering a few humiliating parting “humps” from behind to his opponent.

“Big John,” often hailed as the pioneer of MMA refereeing, strongly disapproves of Adesanya’s behavior…

McCarthy Says He Would Have Corrected Adesanya’s Attitude

During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast with Josh Thomson, McCarthy weighed in on the brewing animosity between Du Plessis and Adesanya ahead of their clash at UFC 305. The seasoned MMA referee predicted that once the fight concludes, the tension between them will dissipate, and they will likely show mutual respect toward each other.

“The whole point is, like, all of that goes out the window when they fight,” McCarthy said. “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about what you bring.”

McCarthy went on to voice his disdain for Adesanya’s post-fight actions with Costa, stating that had he been the referee for that bout, he would have unequivocally impressed upon Izzy that such behavior tarnishes the integrity of the sport.

“Izzy’s done a lot of things. If you take a look, he did the whole thing, if you remember, with Paulo Costa. Okay, I’m telling you right now, if I was refereeing that fight, I would have stopped the fight. I would have f**king taken him off. I would have f**king taken points from him. I would have f**king changed his attitude as far as ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Okay? You don’t do things in that cage that are disrespectful to the sport, disrespectful to your promoter, disrespectful to the fans, disrespectful to your opponent. You don’t do it. You know, you get the chance to—you can punch him in the face, but you don’t have to do the other bullsh*t.”

Continue Reading ‘Big’ John McCarthy Admonishes Israel Adesanya For Previous In-Octagon Lack Of Conduct: ‘I Would Have Taken Points From Him!’ at MMA News.

Eugene Bareman Details UFC 305 Fight Week Interaction With ‘Very Nice’ Dricus Du Plessis & Co.: ‘I Can’t Speak For Israel…’

Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, recently revealed that despite the fierce animosity between “The Last Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis, he shares a surprisingly warm camaraderie with the UFC middleweight champion and his team. Du Plessis is set to make his inaugural title defense against Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, taking place […]

Continue Reading Eugene Bareman Details UFC 305 Fight Week Interaction With ‘Very Nice’ Dricus Du Plessis & Co.: ‘I Can’t Speak For Israel…’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, recently revealed that despite the fierce animosity between “The Last Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis, he shares a surprisingly warm camaraderie with the UFC middleweight champion and his team.

Du Plessis is set to make his inaugural title defense against Adesanya in the main event of UFC 305, taking place this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

The tension between these middleweight powerhouses has been building for a while, and it almost reached a breaking point during their fiery altercation in the Octagon at UFC 290 in July 2023. Adesanya and Du Plessis were initially targeted to settle their differences at UFC 293 in September 2023, but “Stillknocks” was forced to withdraw due to an injury.

However, UFC 290 wasn’t the first time these rivals crossed paths in public. Back in 2016, while both were training at the Tiger Muay Thai facility in Thailand, Du Plessis accidentally collided with Adesanya. Unlike their recent heated exchanges, this hasty encounter was marked by mutual apologies rather than harsh words.

Beyond the competitive tension, the animosity between them intensified when “Stillknocks” challenged Adesanya’s African identity, questioning the legitimacy of the Nigerian-born fighter who now calls New Zealand home.

However, this discord doesn’t extend to City Kickboxing’s head coach, who maintains a positive relationship with Du Plessis…

Bareman Reveals His Unique Connection With Team Du Plessis, Distinct From Adesanya’s Experience

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Bareman shared that he enjoys a cordial rapport with Du Plessis and his team despite their complex history with the former middleweight champion.

The esteemed MMA coach recounted first meeting the South African team during a 2016 training session at Tiger Muay Thai. At that time, they established a bond that has only deepened over the years, despite the ups and downs involving his own fighter.

I was actually there; I did some rounds and had a conversation with the boys,” Bareman said. “I was still fighting and sparring, so I remember sparring with the boys and having the video footage where he’s [Du Plessis] sparring Volk [Alexander Volkanovski] and stuff. I’m also in the room sparring somewhere else. Eventually, I got around and we sparred each other as well. Yeah, and I had conversations with them. It was really obvious that they were like brothers, and they were from South Africa, so I remember having some good, decent conversations with them. They’re a very nice team. I can’t speak for Israel, obviously; he’s got his own history, and that’s a little bit different from my history.”

Bareman further noted that he recently interacted with several members of Du Plessis’ team during UFC 305 fight week and found them to be exceptionally respectful.

“They’ve come up to me, made their way through the crowd, and said, ‘Hey Coach Bareman or Coach Eugene, how are you? Good to see you again. It’s been so long. Who would have thought after all these years, after us sparring in that little room, that we would all be in this position?’ I said, ‘Yeah, it’s absolutely amazing.’ I just wish them all the best. There’s some stuff going on, and it’s a good story, I guess. But from my experience back then and now, they’re good people.”

It remains highly uncertain whether Adesanya and Du Plessis will put their bad blood to rest after their fight. However, one thing is certain: the showdown is set to deliver an electrifying spectacle for fans, fueled by the deep-seated rivalry between the two fighters.

Continue Reading Eugene Bareman Details UFC 305 Fight Week Interaction With ‘Very Nice’ Dricus Du Plessis & Co.: ‘I Can’t Speak For Israel…’ at MMA News.

Robert Whittaker On The ‘Million Dollar Question’ That Could Determine Who Wins UFC 305 Main Event

Robert Whittaker has his eyes firmly set on the upcoming middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which will headline UFC 305, and for good reason. Recently, he shared his thoughts on how this highly anticipated bout might unfold. “Stillknocks” is poised to put his middleweight title on the line for the […]

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Robert Whittaker has his eyes firmly set on the upcoming middleweight title clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which will headline UFC 305, and for good reason. Recently, he shared his thoughts on how this highly anticipated bout might unfold.

“Stillknocks” is poised to put his middleweight title on the line for the first time in a rivalry-fueled showdown against Adesanya, scheduled for this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Du Plessis was initially lined up to face Adesanya following his knockout win over Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, destiny intervened, as an injury sidelined the undefeated South African contender. Meanwhile, “The Last Stylebender” suffered a shocking loss, surrendering his title to Strickland at UFC 293 last September.

Du Plessis marked his victorious comeback by edging out Strickland in a split decision, capturing the 185-pound title at UFC 297 this past January. With renewed confidence, he has boldly declared his belief that he will defeat Adesanya, who is returning to the Octagon after an 11-month self-imposed hiatus—the longest break of his UFC career.

If that scenario unfolds, “Stillknocks” has hinted that his next title defense will likely be against the winner of Whittaker’s upcoming clash with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, scheduled for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26.

Having squared off against both UFC 305 main eventers—especially Adesanya, whom he’s faced twice—”The Reaper” possesses a rare perspective on the hurdles each will likely face when they clash in the Octagon this Saturday night…

Whittaker Predicts Adesanya’s Lessons From Strickland Loss Could Affect Du Plessis Bout

During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker delved into the upcoming clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya, noting that it’s hard for him to predict a clear winner. The former UFC middleweight champion pointed out that both fighters last stepped into the Octagon against Strickland, but their contrasting strategies led to very different results.

“I guess it’s very hard to put a hard pick on either one of them,” Whittaker said. “But I’ll say all we can look at is historically, like their previous fights. Dricus, in his last fight against Strickland, moved forward, put pressure on Strickland, didn’t let Strickland do that to him, shut his game down, was very aggressive, created that space, and didn’t let Strickland really find the rhythm that he likes to fight in.

Strickland, prior to that fight, fought Adesanya and did exactly that to Israel—pushed into his space and didn’t allow Adesanya to utilize that dangerous space that he likes fighting in. He crowded him to a point where he didn’t let him have any free distancing from the fence so that he could move away. He kept Adesanya’s back to the fence for 90% of the fight and beat Adesanya by decision.”

“The Reaper” went on to highlight that a pivotal aspect of this fight will be whether Adesanya has fine-tuned his skills during his time off after the loss to Strickland. He noted that it will be crucial to see if Adesanya can effectively counter Du Plessis’ relentless pressure and close-quarters exchanges.

“Dricus was able to push that plan against Strickland that Strickland was able to push against Adesanya, so you would have to think Dricus is going to push that same plan on Adesanya. And I guess the million-dollar question is, what has Izzy done in his layoff since the Strickland fight to make sure that doesn’t happen again? Because you can bet your bottom dollar Dricus is going to push into that.”

Continue Reading Robert Whittaker On The ‘Million Dollar Question’ That Could Determine Who Wins UFC 305 Main Event at MMA News.

Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’

Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently offered insights on the upcoming title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya set for UFC 305. Du Plessis is set to make the first defense of his middleweight title in a much-awaited showdown of fierce rivalry against Adesanya, headlining the pay-per-view event on August 17 at the […]

Continue Reading Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’ at MMA News.

Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently offered insights on the upcoming title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya set for UFC 305.

Du Plessis is set to make the first defense of his middleweight title in a much-awaited showdown of fierce rivalry against Adesanya, headlining the pay-per-view event on August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

“Stillknocks” was originally targeted to challenge Adesanya after his impressive victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, fate had other plans, as an injury sidelined the South African. In the meantime, “The Last Stylebender” suffered an unexpected defeat, losing the middleweight title to Strickland at UFC 293.

Du Plessis made a triumphant return by defeating Strickland in a razor-close split decision, clinching the 185-pound title at UFC 297 this past January. Now, the stage is perfectly set for these two adversaries to finally settle their scores in the Octagon as Adesanya gears up to make his return after an 11-month hiatus—the longest of his UFC career.

Nicksick believes that both fighters are evenly matched heading into UFC 305, but the outcome will hinge on just how much “The Last Stylebender” has sharpened his skills during his time away from the competition…

Nicksick Calls Du Plessis vs. Adesanya a ’50-50′ Battle

During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Nicksick dissected the highly anticipated clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya. The renowned MMA coach predicted that both fighters stand on equal footing with an even chance of victory. However, he emphasized that much will depend on how well the former UFC middleweight champion performs after such a lengthy hiatus from the sport.

“I kind of consider it a 50-50 coin flip, man. I really do. I’m very curious to see what type of Izzy comes back,” Nicksick said. “In a lot of ways, selfishly, I’m pulling for him because, you know, the division is much better with a talented and, you know, championship-level Israel Adesanya in the division.”

Nicksick went on to say that, based on Du Plessis’ performance against Strickland, he sees “Stillknocks” as the favorite. He noted that Du Plessis’ unorthodox style makes him a formidable challenge for Adesanya, potentially giving him the edge in this matchup.

“I really took a liking to Dricus over the last year or so. I wouldn’t say we’re close, but we’re friendly and very respectful towards one another, and I’m pulling for him in a lot of ways because I think he has been severely overlooked over the years. He’s a problem, man, and he’s only getting better. I think the way he’s starting to fight and understand who and what he is as a fighter—he’s awkward in a way like Sean is, but with more power, right? It’s hard—it’s very hard. It was very difficult for us to find particular sparring partners for Dricus’ camp. You’re not going to find many people that can fight like him.”

Du Plessis and Adesanya have been on a collision course long before their fiery face-off at UFC 290. Their upcoming showdown promises to be a captivating spectacle, as both fighters bring their own distinctive and formidable fighting styles to the table.

Continue Reading Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’ at MMA News.

Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’

Robert Whittaker recently revealed that the push to reschedule his previously canceled bout against Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 308 was entirely his initiative. Both fighters were initially set to headline UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, just weeks before the contest, “Borz” withdrew due to an unspecified illness. In a bid […]

Continue Reading Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’ at MMA News.

Robert Whittaker recently revealed that the push to reschedule his previously canceled bout against Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 308 was entirely his initiative.

Both fighters were initially set to headline UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on June 22. However, just weeks before the contest, “Borz” withdrew due to an unspecified illness. In a bid to salvage the main event, Ikram Aliskerov stepped in on short notice. Unfortunately for Aliskerov, his night was cut short as Whittaker dispatched him with a knockout in under two minutes.

Now, the UFC has rebooked Whittaker and Chimaev for a five-round middleweight bout as the co-main event of UFC 308, set to take place on October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“The Reaper” asserts that it was his idea to challenge Chimaev once again, driven by a desire to test his skills against the formidable opponent…

Whittaker Believes Victory Over Chimaev Could Secure Title Shot

During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker discussed his rationale for rescheduling his fight against Chimaev. The former UFC middleweight champion expressed that he couldn’t pass up the chance to fight on enemy turf and prove his mettle.

“Unfortunately, the business isn’t completely run on merit, and a lot of it is, but there are a lot of times and moments when it just is not,” Whittaker said. “Chimaev is a hard fight; he’s obviously a big draw, especially over there in Abu Dhabi… I think the UFC, story-wise, wants to see Chimaev get a shot at the champion or whatever. They want to see Chimaev at the top of the ladder; they want to see him in that picture. But I love disrupting their plans; I love derailing their stories, and that’s why I took the fight.

You know, I asked for the fight straight after my last fight. I saw there was an Abu Dhabi card in October, the timeline fits perfectly, and I was like, I’ll fight Chimaev again. Let’s do it again, just make sure he turns up.”

“The Reaper” further emphasized that he knows Chimaev is a tough opponent, but believes that defeating him would pave the way for a title shot.

“I look forward to hard fights, and I know that if I beat Chimaev, there is nothing in my way to getting my belt back. Chimaev, as dangerous as he is, I don’t go into these fights thinking about what I have to lose. Much like how I took the fight with Ikram, I don’t look at the fights and think, ‘Oh man, it’s too big of a risk.’ Every fight’s a risk, you know, and I only go into fights because I have the confidence I’m going to beat and smash whoever is in front of me, and that doesn’t change with Chimaev.”

“Borz” has been out of action since his majority decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October. During that bout, he suffered a torn ligament in his hand, which was followed by a severe infection that spread across his upper body, forcing him to take an extended break from active competition.

Meanwhile, Whittaker is gearing up for his third Octagon appearance of 2024. Earlier this year, he secured a decisive victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in February and followed it up with a win against Aliskerov.

Continue Reading Whittaker Reveals He Insisted On Chimaev Rebooking: ‘I Love Disrupting Their Plans’ at MMA News.

Coach Dismisses Outcome Of Decade-Old Sparring Session Between Adesanya & Du Plessis: ‘We’ve Heard Stories Of AJ Being Knocked Out In Boxing…’

Israel Adesanya’s striking coach, Michael Angove, recently brushed off the importance of an almost decade-old sparring session between “The Last Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis is poised to defend his middleweight title for the first time in a highly anticipated grudge match against Adesanya, headlining the UFC 305 card at Perth’s RAC Arena […]

Continue Reading Coach Dismisses Outcome Of Decade-Old Sparring Session Between Adesanya & Du Plessis: ‘We’ve Heard Stories Of AJ Being Knocked Out In Boxing…’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya’s striking coach, Michael Angove, recently brushed off the importance of an almost decade-old sparring session between “The Last Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis.

Du Plessis is poised to defend his middleweight title for the first time in a highly anticipated grudge match against Adesanya, headlining the UFC 305 card at Perth’s RAC Arena in Western Australia on August 17.

Adesanya and Du Plessis have been on an inevitable trajectory toward each other long before their tempestuous confrontation in the Octagon at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, that explosive encounter was not their only meeting; their rivalry dates back to well before they became prominent figures in the world of MMA.

In a video that surfaced on social media last year, captured in 2016 at the Tiger Muay Thai training facility in Thailand, Du Plessis was seen sparring with former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. During this session, the South African unintentionally bumped into Adesanya. The brief encounter saw them exchange apologies before they resumed their separate training.

After the clip gained significant traction, both Adesanya and Du Plessis reflected on their past training session multiple times. The Nigerian-born Kiwi admitted to struggling in the grappling exchanges but claimed to have outshone “Stillknocks” in striking. In contrast, Du Plessis insisted that he “manhandled” his future opponent throughout the entire session.

However, Angove believes that the past has little bearing on the present…

Angove States One Training Session Doesn’t Ensure Du Plessis Will Outperform Adesanya Again

During a recent interview with The Scrap, Angove was questioned about the training session between Adesanya and Du Plessis. The City Kickboxing coach responded diplomatically, stressing that past events are irrelevant in the present context. He highlighted that both fighters, particularly his protégé, have undergone significant evolution since then.

“It is what it is, you know, it was 10 years ago, that’s a decade,” Angove said. “What happens in the training room and all those factors, I mean, we’ve heard stories of AJ [Anthony Joshua] being knocked out in boxing. You get guys who get chinned by sparring partners, but none of that matters because so much water has gone under the bridge. You know, one training session, once, when one guy got the better of someone in one particular exchange does not mean whooped his sh*t, to be honest.”

Angove further emphasized that Adesanya showcased robust takedown defense against formidable opponents like Yoel Romero and Derek Brunson, both known for their wrestling-heavy game. In contrast, Du Plessis was taken down by Brunson in their fight.

“Let’s not forget, Romero couldn’t hold Izzy down, couldn’t take him down. Derek Brunson couldn’t get him down, and we know that Derek took Dricus down. So, you know, time moves, and Dricus will have improved since then as well. But we don’t operate in this kind of time-free style. These guys are elite athletes who have developed so that they’re at the top of the MMA game, and that’s how we look at it.”

Continue Reading Coach Dismisses Outcome Of Decade-Old Sparring Session Between Adesanya & Du Plessis: ‘We’ve Heard Stories Of AJ Being Knocked Out In Boxing…’ at MMA News.