Tag: World Cup

Fighters react to a drama-filled World Cup final as Lionel Messi leads Argentina to victory: “WHAT A GOAT!”

FightersAfter four years, today was the day one of the world’s most illustrious sporting competitions gave us yet another unforgettable finale. MMA fighters across the world were in absolute awe as they watched Argentina and France collide in what is already being labeled the best FIFA World Cup final of all time.  Argentina’s infamous Lionel […]

Fighters

After four years, today was the day one of the world’s most illustrious sporting competitions gave us yet another unforgettable finale.

MMA fighters across the world were in absolute awe as they watched Argentina and France collide in what is already being labeled the best FIFA World Cup final of all time. 

Argentina’s infamous Lionel Messi and France’s young superstar Kylian Mbappé stole to show as they traded punch for punch with Messi netting two goals as opposed to Mbappé’s hat trick in a match that was filled with back-and-forth drama. 

Argentina took the game by storm early on going 2-nil up in the first half, thanks to goals from Messi and teammate, Angel Di Maria. 

However, after making some substitutions and adjustments to their game plan, France were able to battle back and force the game to extra time thanks to two quick goals from Kylian Mbappé. 

From there, the action only escalated as Messi scored his second goal. Argentina believed they had done enough, only to be matched with a Mbappé penalty kick with minutes remaining.

With both teams unable to be separated within 120 minutes of play, the game would be decided by penalties. Thanks to crucial goalkeeping from Emiliano Martíenz and a well-taken spot-kick goal from Gonzalo Montiel, Argentina had finally done it winning their third-ever World Cup for the first time since 1986. 

The fighting community were in absolute ecstasy after such an incredible game of soccer. See below for some of the best reactions from the fighters.

Fighters react to the world cup final

Which fighter’s reaction was most like yours?

Santiago Ponzinibbio comes to defense of Lionel Messi following Canelo Alvarez threats: ‘If you want to fight, I’m ready’

Santiago PonzinibbioUFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio has come to the defense of fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi, following boxing star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s outburst towards the footballer. Alvarez would take Twitter yesterday to lampoon footballing icon, Messi, following celebration scenes in the Argentina dressing room after their victory against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup. The boxer would […]

Santiago Ponzinibbio

UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio has come to the defense of fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi, following boxing star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s outburst towards the footballer.

Alvarez would take Twitter yesterday to lampoon footballing icon, Messi, following celebration scenes in the Argentina dressing room after their victory against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup.

The boxer would accuse Messi of wiping the floor with the Mexican flag, affronted by a Mexico jersey on the floor, ‘Canelo’ would even go as far as to threaten Messi saying that he hoped God does not let him find him.

While it’s never good to hear that one of the greatest boxers in the world is after you, Messi will at least have some comfort knowing Santiago Ponzinibbio has his back.

Talking to MMAFighting, Santiago Ponzinibbio would come to the defense of his countryman, saying that ‘Canelo’ should fight him instead of the ‘respectful’ Messi.

“I was pissed,” Ponzinibbio said. “No point threatening Messi. Everybody knows Messi’s career. If [Alvarez] doesn’t know he shouldn’t say a thing. It’s normal for players to throw jerseys on the ground, they are all sweaty, but he didn’t do anything disrespectful. Everybody that knows Messi knows he’s an impeccable athlete and a very respectful person.”

[Messi] had an excellent match,” Ponzinibbio continued. “I was upset. Brother, if you want to fight, I’m ready, but leave Messi be. You mess with Messi, you mess with the entire Argentina. Don’t bother the kid.” (H/T MMAFighting)

Ponzinibbio is set to face former UFC champion Robbie Lawler on the undercard of UFC 282, which should make for an exciting matchup. The 36-year-old will also be hoping to get back to winning ways following two back-to-back split decision losses.

As for Messi, he and the Argentinian national team will hope to make it to the knockout stages of the world cup, taking on Poland in an important tomorrow night.

How would Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez go?

Khabib Reveals Why There Was No Conor McGregor Confrontation At World Cup

Those looking for a Khabib vs. Conor McGregor faceoff yesterday will have to wait.

The post Khabib Reveals Why There Was No Conor McGregor Confrontation At World Cup appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Yesterday while the soccer world was fixated on the World Cup final between France and Croatia, the mixed martial arts world was more concerned with the fact that rivals Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor were finally in the same place at the same time.

It turned out that McGregor was a guest of Russian president Vladimir Putin, oddly enough, as it would have been thought that the Dagestani Nurmagomedov would have been a much more likely guest of the leader.

Regardless, Nurmagomedov and the controversial former UFC champ McGregor are rumored to be headed for a massive megafight sometime later this year, although nothing concrete has arisen in terms of details of the booking. “The Notorious” is still awaiting his next court date for the insane assault he initiated by throwing a metal dolly through the window of a bus containing Nurmagomedov and other fighters days prior to April’s UFC 223, so we have no clue as to where negotiations truly stand.

Because of that, some may have been hoping that public clash between the two superstars would provide some direction in that regard, but during a recent interview translated by Express.co.uk (via MMA Fighting), “The Eagle” said that while he did expect he may run into McGregor at the World Cup, he would have kept it professional in hopes of actually getting the fight:

“I thought I’d meet McGregor at the Luzhniki Stadium. But even if we meet now, we still will not be able to find out who is stronger. If there was a cage in the middle of the arena, it would be more interesting. And now something to find out on the street and so on. We are not at that age and not in that position.

“It would be ideal if there were no one around. Or vice versa — to the full stadium, in the middle of the cage, and in it — we. In general, I see no reason to approach him now. We are hospitable people. Let the football look, enjoy Russia.”

A calm, collected outlook from the highly reserved-yet-calculating champion, who apparently wants to let his fighting do his talking in the Octagon. There’s a decent chance we may not get to see the McGregor match-up this year, however, and even a chance it never happens at all.

“The Eagle” is aiming for that fight, yet if it doesn’t materialize, he recently revealed on his YouTube show that he’s eying a fight with his idol Georges St-Pierre, the winner of July 28’s Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier main event at UFC on FOX, or perhaps even a fifth scheduled fight with Tony Ferguson:

“If not Conor, if not (Georges St-Pierre), I think winner of Eddie Alvarez versus Dustin Poirier.

”The winner deserves a title shot. About Tony Ferguson, I don’t know. He has surgery but if he can [fight], why not? Tony Ferguson is the biggest matchup for me. It is the match I want.”

The post Khabib Reveals Why There Was No Conor McGregor Confrontation At World Cup appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Conor McGregor Praises Vladimir Putin As World Cup Guest

Conor McGregor was a special guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the World Cup.

The post Conor McGregor Praises Vladimir Putin As World Cup Guest appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

If you heard that a high-profile MMA fighter was going to be in Russia to attend the World Cup final as a special guest of Soviet President Vladimir Putin, you most likely would have thought Khabib Nurmagomedov.

That would’ve been a safe assumption, and although the UFC lightweight champion was in attendance today, he was not there at Putin’s request.

That fighter is “The Notorious” Conor McGregor. McGregor wasn’t in Russia just to take in the spectacle that is the World Cup, apparently he also has ambitions of building a “Russian Compound”. Your guess is as good as mine.

McGregor, as it turns out, was the special guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both men enjoyed each other’s company as they took in the football game. “The Notorious” one hurled words of praise at the President.e

See Conor’s Instagram post with Putin below:

As stated above, Khabib was also in attendance for the day-long festivities, but there have been no reports of Nurmagomedov and McGregor causing any ruckus at the last game of the World Cup

The post Conor McGregor Praises Vladimir Putin As World Cup Guest appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

SportsPotato: Ghana’s John Boye Busts Up Clint Dempsey With an Eye Poke/Flying Head Kick in World Cup Opener


(via The Big Lead)

Yesterday’s Group G matchup between the United States and Ghana was as tense and thrilling a World Cup match as you will ever see, and not just because it resulted in the good ol’ US of A pulling out a late victory over their “Black Star” rivals. Thanks to a Clint Dempsey goal in the opening minute and a John Brooks header off a corner kick in the 86th, the United States was finally able to best the team who had defeated them in back-to-back World Cup appearances. And there was much rejoicing.

The victory did not come easy, however. Star striker Jozy Altidore was stretchered off the field with a strained hamstring early in the match, and around the 32-minute mark, Ghana defender/Simon Phoenix impersonator John Boye nearly ended Dempsey’s game with a brutal (albeit incidental) flying head kick ala Yves Edwards vs. Josh Thomson. Although it appeared that Dempsey’s nose had clearly been broken in the exchange, he was later cleared to continue competing. The jury’s still out on Altidore, though.

A full-sized, slowed-down Vine of the kick is after the jump.


(via The Big Lead)

Yesterday’s Group G matchup between the United States and Ghana was as tense and thrilling a World Cup match as you will ever see, and not just because it resulted in the good ol’ US of A pulling out a late victory over their “Black Star” rivals. Thanks to a Clint Dempsey goal in the opening minute and a John Brooks header off a corner kick in the 86th, the United States was finally able to best the team who had defeated them in back-to-back World Cup appearances. And there was much rejoicing.

The victory did not come easy, however. Star striker Jozy Altidore was stretchered off the field with a strained hamstring early in the match, and around the 32-minute mark, Ghana defender/Simon Phoenix impersonator John Boye nearly ended Dempsey’s game with a brutal (albeit incidental) flying head kick ala Yves Edwards vs. Josh Thomson. Although it appeared that Dempsey’s nose had clearly been broken in the exchange, he was later cleared to continue competing. The jury’s still out on Altidore, though.

A full-sized, slowed-down Vine of the kick is below.

As far as soccer injuries go, that’s about as nasty as it gets. Although, credit where credit is due, Boye’s hops, dexterity, and unorthodox striking techniques would help him fit right in as a villain in the next Tony Jaa movie.

–J. Jones