Dan Hooker Claims Fight With Paul Felder Has Turned Personal

Dan Hooker did not take too kindly to Paul Felder’s recent comments about him. Hooker and Felder will headline UFC Auckland from the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on February 23. Recently, Felder said he looks forward to knocking out “Hangman” in front of his own friends and family in his hometown of Auckland. […]

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Dan Hooker did not take too kindly to Paul Felder’s recent comments about him. Hooker and Felder will headline UFC Auckland from the Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on February 23.

Recently, Felder said he looks forward to knocking out “Hangman” in front of his own friends and family in his hometown of Auckland.

“I’m invading into his country. My whole plan is to knock his ass out in front of all his friends and family and take that money and get out of there and go on to a title shot.”

Hooker didn’t appear to appreciate those comments, as he tells MMA Junkie that things just got very personal ahead of their clash in February.

“It’s definitely crossed that line for me,” Hooker said. “I didn’t feel that this fight needed any of that. I didn’t feel like this fight needed anything added to it, you know? We’re two of the best, we’re both just brawlers, we love to come in there and throw down.

“I don’t think it was necessary, but if he wants to start throwing those things out there, I’m not going to sit back and take it. I’m going to retaliate, I’m going to bring the heat and yeah, it’s definitely crossed the line for me, gone into a very personal nature.”

Hooker predicts that he’ll fold Felder “like a lawn chair” when they fight, and expects a fast start to things when the fight kicks off.

“I’m going to fold that boy like a deckchair, I promise you,” Hooker said. “I think it’s going to be a fast start. Whether it happens in the first or the fifth, I do not care. It’s up to him. It’s when he wants to take those risks, but I’m chinning that boy, I promise.”

Who are you picking in Hooker vs. Felder?

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Conor McGregor Explains Why He Appreciates Donald Cerrone

Conor McGregor is taking a very different approach to things in his fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246. The bout goes down on pay-per-view (PPV) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although McGregor usually tries to trash talk his opponents before a fight, this time, “Notorious” is taking a more respectful […]

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Conor McGregor is taking a very different approach to things in his fight with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246.

The bout goes down on pay-per-view (PPV) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although McGregor usually tries to trash talk his opponents before a fight, this time, “Notorious” is taking a more respectful approach. Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani in a recent interview, McGregor admits he appreciates Cerrone for how he handled the build-up to the fight.

“Well, I said I’d fight him right? Me and Donald have had a history, a long history – well not a long history, but we’ve had a history. It’s an exciting bout, it’s a fan-friendly bout, it’s a fight that excites me, and it’s a fight that I said I’d partake – I appreciate Donald I have to say. 

“He’s fought a lot of times, and since the last time I saw him – I saw him at that Aldo press conference many many years ago – he’s gone on and fought so many times. He’s also a family man with his grandmother – I appreciate that and I respect that. I also respect the method he went about with the Proper Whiskey and, you know, so much work goes into these things. To see that bit of respect, I appreciate that. I look forward to having a good bout,” McGregor said. 

“I’m happy to come back and have my comeback fight and the beginning of my season against Donald. And I look forward to it, it’s going to be a good night, and I’m going to shine here on January 18. I’m going to create magic, like I have many times before. But this is going to be something special.”

McGregor and Cerrone’s fight will take place at 170 pounds despite the fact that the Irishman is still chasing gold at lightweight. As for why McGregor opted to fight Cerrone at welterweight rather than lightweight, McGregor noted that it’s because he doesn’t like the way “Cowboy” looks at 155 pounds.

“I just don’t think he looks well at 155. He’s a 170 fighter. Why would I want someone to suffer? I could beat him if he fought – I’d beat him any bleedin’ – I’d beat him at any weight. I’d beat him any – you know what I mean? I’d beat him if I had the flu. So I don’t need that. I just want to focus on my training. I don’t have to cut, and then build, and then cut.

“I’m happy where I’m at. And also, 170 is an exciting one for me. I like 170, I like what’s going on in the 170 division at the minute. You got Jorge with that belt, you got the other guys fighting for the belt. I like all what’s going on at 170. I feel good at 170, I feel energetic, it’s what I weigh, and that’s it. It opens up so many more options, right?”

Who are you picking between McGregor and Cerrone at UFC 246?

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Maycee Barber Explains How Anthony Pettis Has Impacted Her Career

Maycee Barber has had a tremendous start to her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and has a very bright future ahead of her. Barber is 8-0 thus far into her run in the sport, with all but one of her victories coming by way of finish. She’s always an extremely entertaining fighter to watch, and […]

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Maycee Barber has had a tremendous start to her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and has a very bright future ahead of her.

Barber is 8-0 thus far into her run in the sport, with all but one of her victories coming by way of finish. She’s always an extremely entertaining fighter to watch, and plans to make sure that holds true when she takes on longtime women’s MMA veteran Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246 on pay-per-view (PPV) from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 18.

Speaking to UFC News in a recent interview, Barber explains how she always strives to put on a show when she fights, and avoid the judges’ scorecards at all costs. (H/T MMA Junkie)

“I’ve shown that I’m a completely different fighter, you know?” Barber said. “I’m a completely different fighter than all the women out there. How many women have you seen that have had four fights under the UFC name, and four finishes?”

“I’ve talked to a lot of coaches, and a lot of them have been like, ‘I really don’t like women’s fighting,’ and their reason why is because most women’s fights go the distance, and I’ve never done that, so I feel like I’m completely different in that sense, and that’s something I always strive for.”

Barber prepares for Modafferi at Roufusport in Milwaukee alongside some of the best MMA has to offer. That includes former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who Barber says has been a huge help to her.

“Anthony has been helping out a ton,” Barber said. “He’s been giving me a lot of advice, on my own training and then also like, just kind of being there to support because we’re on the same card this time, and so he’s giving motivation. He’ll check in: ‘Where’s your weight at,’ like we check in back and forth, which I never expected to have that from Anthony Pettis, so kind of as a fan girl, it’s cool to see.”

What do you think about Barber? Will she be a champion in 2020?

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Derrick Lewis Says American Top Team Thinks They’ve Figured Him Out

Derrick Lewis believes the folks at American Top Team feel they have a formula to beat him. Lewis is scheduled to take on Ilir Latifi on Feb. 8 at UFC 247. Lewis will have the crowd by his side in Houston as he resides in Cypress, Texas. Latifi had com…

Derrick Lewis believes the folks at American Top Team feel they have a formula to beat him. Lewis is scheduled to take on Ilir Latifi on Feb. 8 at UFC 247. Lewis will have the crowd by his side in Houston as he resides in Cypress, Texas. Latifi had competed in the regional circuit as […]

The post Derrick Lewis Says American Top Team Thinks They’ve Figured Him Out appeared first on MMA News.

Brock Lesnar Wrestles With Gable Steveson At University Of Minnesota (Video)

Former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar recently visited the University Of Minnesota and wrestled with Gophers sophomore Gable Steveson. Lesnar was working as an honorary coach to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his NCAA Heavyweight Title win. He wrestled for Minnesota as a junior and senior after transferring from Bismarck […]

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Former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar recently visited the University Of Minnesota and wrestled with Gophers sophomore Gable Steveson.

Lesnar was working as an honorary coach to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his NCAA Heavyweight Title win. He wrestled for Minnesota as a junior and senior after transferring from Bismarck State College in North Dakota. Throughout his four-year career on the mat, Lesnar compiled a record of 106-5. He wrapped up his wrestling career as a two-time All-American and a 2000 NCAA Division-I heavyweight wrestling championship.

Minnesota on BTN shared a video from Lesnar and Stevenson’s training session, and Stevenson himself shared some photos from the session on Twitter. Check them out here.

While, last year, there were brief rumblings of Lesnar possibly returning to the Octagon, Dana White confirmed that “The Beast” is, in fact, retired from MMA competition now.

“He’s [Lesnar] done. He’s made his decision,” White said. “I don’t know where he is in that other world. I know that he was looking at doing a new deal with Vince to stay with the WWE. I’ve always had a good relationship with Brock. We’ve always dealt really well with each other. When you decide or don’t decide to fight, you mentally have to be ready to fight. If you’re not all in, you shouldn’t fight. He made a decision and it’s the right decision.“

Would you like to see Lesnar return to the Octagon for a fight?

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Derrick Lewis: American Top Team Has A Hit Out On Me

Derrick Lewis will be making his return to the Octagon by welcoming a notable name to the heavyweight division. Lewis will take on Ilir Latifi at the UFC 247 pay-per-view (PPV) on February 8 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Latifi is a member of American Top Team (ATT), a gym “The Black Beast” […]

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Derrick Lewis will be making his return to the Octagon by welcoming a notable name to the heavyweight division.

Lewis will take on Ilir Latifi at the UFC 247 pay-per-view (PPV) on February 8 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Latifi is a member of American Top Team (ATT), a gym “The Black Beast” is all too familiar with. Lewis faced off against ATT’s Shawn Jordan in 2015, Junior dos Santos last March, and has had verbal back-and-forths with Greg Hardy.

Speaking on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast, Lewis joked that ATT has a hit out on him. (H/T MMA Junkie)

“I’m guessing (Latifi called for a fight with me) because I heard he’s training at American Top Team,” Lewis said. “All of those guys have been calling me out left and right. Just about everybody over there – Greg Hardy, him, Junior Dos Santos. What’s the other guy’s name – the crazy one that just fought? Colby …

“They got a hit out on me. Even Shawn Jordan (was) over there, too. They’ve been training for me for years – all their guys. Just about every guy over there I’ve fought already. They feel like they’ve got the recipe out on me.”

As for why the ATT heavyweights have it out for Lewis, he believes the group sees him as the easiest fight in the top five.

“They look at me like the weakest in the top-five – a more easy fight for them,” Lewis said. “That’s how I look at it.”

What do you think about Lewis saying ATT has a hit out on him? Who are you picking between Lewis and Latifi at UFC 247?

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