Tag: UFC News

Coach: Conor McGregor Regressed & Khabib Would’ve Smashed Him

Coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor was fortunate that it was not Khabib Nurmagomedov standing across from him at UFC 257. Dustin Poirier was able to avenge his 2014 loss to Conor McGregor by handing McGregor the first TKO loss of his career. P…

Coach Javier Mendez believes Conor McGregor was fortunate that it was not Khabib Nurmagomedov standing across from him at UFC 257. Dustin Poirier was able to avenge his 2014 loss to Conor McGregor by handing McGregor the first TKO loss of his career. Poirier implemented a stellar gameplan and systemically broke down Conor McGregor’s right […]

Julianna Pena Urges Amanda Nunes To Vacate Bantamweight Title

PenaWell, following her return to winning ways at UFC 257 last weekend, perennial bantamweight contender, Julianna ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ Pena has voiced her displeasure with the current momentum and lie of the bantamweight championship. Returning from a shocking submission defeat to a predominantly striking oriented contender in the form of inaugural featherweight champion, Germaine de […]

Pena

Well, following her return to winning ways at UFC 257 last weekend, perennial bantamweight contender, Julianna ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ Pena has voiced her displeasure with the current momentum and lie of the bantamweight championship.

Returning from a shocking submission defeat to a predominantly striking oriented contender in the form of inaugural featherweight champion, Germaine de Randamie, Spokane native, Pena notched a submission victory of her own in Abu Dhabi — besting one-time title chaser, Sara McMann with a third-round rear-naked choke. 

Afterwards, The Ultimate Fighter 18 victor called for a championship tangle with two-weight world champion, Amanda ‘The Lioness’ Nunes — who is current preoccupied with featherweight duties as she attempts to lodge her second successful title defence when she draws Megan Anderson at UFC 259 in March. With her most recent title defence coming in December of 2019, Nunes was accused of “ducking” the 135-pound ranks by Pena during her post-fight interview with UFC commentator, Jon Anik last Saturday.

Doubling-down on her intentions to draw Nunes back to the division, Pena took to her official Instagram page recently, laying out her body of work which she believes warrants her a title shot next. If Nunes doesn’t agree with the former’s claims, the Washington grappler has suggested a vacant title fight alongside above-mentioned foe, de Randamie.

“Amanda (Nunes) says I can’t make myself a contender for her?? Show me who has made themselves a bigger contender then I in the @ufc. Swipe right to see how my résumé speaks for itself. I fought the best two strikers in my division and neutralized their strikes and successfully got them taken down. I fought the best wrestlers in my division and out grappled them both. With all due respect, I say humbly I have the style to make it a dog fight and beat Amanda. Styles make fights. Fight me. It’s been over a year since you fought at 135 (-pounds). If you’re not going to defend at bantamweight again then vacate your belt and I’ll rematch GDR (Germaine de Randamie). And Megan (Anderson) saying I’m salty bc (because) I have the same amount of @ufc wins as her?“

Climbing above Ketlen Vieira into the number six spot at bantamweight with her submission win over McMann, Pena improved her professional record to 10-4. An eight-fight Octagon veteran, Pena has established a 6-2 record under the UFC’s banner, besting Jessica Rakoczy, Miliana Dudieva, Jessica Eye, Cat Zingano and inaugural flyweight champion, Nicco Montano during her stint. 
Prior to her October loss to de Randamie, Pena dropped a title-eliminator to current 125-pound champion, Valentina ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko via an opening round armbar.

In her most recent defence of the bantamweight crown, Bahia force, Nunes met with common-opposition, de Randamie, utilising her wrestling and grappling to score a unanimous decision win, and her second career win over the Utrecht kickboxer.

Pitbull Believes Michael Chandler Proved Bellator’s “Power” At UFC 257

Current Bellator double champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes Michael Chandler’s first-round KO of Dan Hooker at UFC 257 demonstrates more than just one man’s ability. Patricio Freire and Michael Chandler have no love loss for one anothe…

Current Bellator double champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire believes Michael Chandler’s first-round KO of Dan Hooker at UFC 257 demonstrates more than just one man’s ability. Patricio Freire and Michael Chandler have no love loss for one another, but even Freire had to give it up to Chandler for his impressive UFC debut at UFC 257. […]

Gilbert Burns: I’ve Sparred Over 200 Rounds With Kamaru Usman

BurnsThe main event at UFC 258 will not be the first time Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman see each other in a combative nature. In fact, they have spent significant cage time together according to Burns in a new interview with Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie. (H/T MMA Junkie) “Me and Kamaru had over 200 […]

Burns

The main event at UFC 258 will not be the first time Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman see each other in a combative nature.

In fact, they have spent significant cage time together according to Burns in a new interview with Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie. (H/T MMA Junkie)

“Me and Kamaru had over 200 rounds sparring, at least,” Burns said.  “We started training together in 2012 in Blackzillians. Then Blackzillians broke down, they disappeared, so we moved with Henri Hooft. We went to a place called Combat Club. Then we were there for almost a year, and then we opened up the Hard Knocks. We were at Hard Knocks for two years. Then we moved to Sanford MMA and then we been in Sanford for a total of two years. So I’ve trained with Kamaru for seven years and we both love to train.”

“He was a good training partner for me and I was good partner for him. Just sparring sessions, over 200. And just the grappling sessions, plus the wrestling sessions, for sure I have so many hours on the mat with Kamaru. We know each other very well.”

This match up has been one that we all have been waiting for a while to see.

The fight was originally going to take place in July of 2020, but Burns contracted COVID-19 so the bout got pushed back.

It was then scheduled to be the headliner at UFC 256 in December, but Usman had to pull out due to an injury.

Burns has been on a hot streak ever since making the move up to welterweight. He is 4-0 at that weight and put on one of the best performances of his career in his last fight against former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley.

Usman’s last fight was a unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal in July to preserve his perfect record inside the UFC.

Unlike some of their previous fights, there seems to be a good amount of respect coming into this one.

“I have so much respect for Kamaru,” Burns said. “I like him a lot and it’s going to be a competition. No bad blood, nothing. I have nothing against him. He’s been a great champion, a good teammate. We were never close friends, we never texted each other or anything, it was always about fighting.”

Who wins at UFC 258? Gilbert Burns or Kamaru Usman?

Georges St-Pierre Opens Up On Missed Khabib Nurmagomedov Superfight

Georges St-Pierre thought he would end up fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. For over a year now, many people speculated that Nurmagomedov’s final fight would be against St-Pierre. The Canadian says he thought Nurmagomedov would’ve called him ou…

Georges St-Pierre thought he would end up fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov. For over a year now, many people speculated that Nurmagomedov’s final fight would be against St-Pierre. The Canadian says he thought Nurmagomedov would’ve called him out, and if he did, he would’ve had to think about whether or not he would return. “I was in […]

Chael Sonnen Believes Conor McGregor Looked ‘Slower Than I Remember’ Against Dustin Poirier

Chael Sonnen thinks Conor McGregor was a lot slower than he remembers. In the main event of UFC 257, McGregor made his return to the Octagon against Dustin Poirier. In the lead-up to the scrap, the Irishman said he would KO Poirier inside 60 seconds. H…

Chael Sonnen thinks Conor McGregor was a lot slower than he remembers. In the main event of UFC 257, McGregor made his return to the Octagon against Dustin Poirier. In the lead-up to the scrap, the Irishman said he would KO Poirier inside 60 seconds. However, that was far from the case as it was […]