I like this matchup for Rose because she needs a win and Ribas will come forward and engage enthusiastically. Have to imagine Rose is able to dart in and out and put her skills on display. Ribas is extremely hittable on the feet so I have a tough time seeing her path to victory. I don't think she'll be able to get a hold of Rose or walk her down.
No doubt there's more going on behind the scenes here but just looking at this event we've got a last minute opponent changeup, Chatri's comments about Japanese fighters, and Sexyama being offered a fight with Holzken on two weeks' notice. Looks like Chatri was trying to engineer these results.
What’s his deal anyway? The has to be a reason for his inactivity and I’d be more likely to believe the Kadyrov connection makes it difficult to book him and fly him to certain parts of the world than Dana just putting him on ice for no reason. If there’s a buck to be made Dana’s going after it. Might also be that Khamzat fades hard so they’re reluctant to put him in a five rounder while the hype train is still in effect.
WWE announced a landmark deal to move the company’s flagship show to Netflix for a reported $5 billion price tag over 10 years but what exactly could that mean for the future of the UFC with a broadcast rights deal coming up in 2025?
I had always hope that the UFC would chase legitimacy in the sporting world over an entertainment based product. It would be cool to see bigger pay checks for the fighters attracting more talented athletes to the sport and promotion instead of more Strickland / Covington schtick that catches a headline at the time but waters down the product in the long run.
The UFC should be pushing to make Aspinall v Stipe and the Aspinall v Jones. If Stipe and Jones are both set for retirement it would be better for the promotion to feed them to Aspinall and build his star power. He’s the one that’s going to be around headlining future PPVs. Might be smart to … you know … promote him.
Didn't wait too long. Wow. It's a shame we never got a Nunes rematch. Cyborg's longevity and cross discipline success is wild regardless of the level of competition.
Closer fight than I expected. I had it 3-2 for Strickland with sound defence and crisper shots but it could have gone either way. I was impressed that Dricus was able to basically take big lunges and throw power shots all night long without gassing. Given his strength advantage over most of the division I wonder what style beats Dricus. He's certainly hittable but he just powers through it all.
Enjoyed learning about MBS through the Embedded videos this week so it was disappointing that what we got was pretty much the lowest skilled title fight the UFC has ever put on. MBS really wasn't there after round one and didn't seem to have prepared for a five round fight. There were times where she waded forward with arms outstretched hoping Pennington would allow her to apply a ninja choke - she held on to chokes that weren't there all night long and Pennington seemingly won by outlasting MBS. It was a good veteran performance but I'm not thrilled about seeing what this division has to offer.
Magny with the buzzer beater! I had been impressed with Malott to this point but I felt like was a little too respectful of Magny early and really fumbled the bag attempting those leg lock in round three instead of standing up and coasting to victory. Big learning experience for Malott and solid veteran performance by Magny.
I thought Allen's accuracy would put Evloev in a lot of trouble but credit to Evloev, he kept his composure and stuck to the game plan. What did everyone think about those knees?
“A lot of hype around him, undefeated, I think this is just the perfect bounce-back fight for me, as well. A lot of people are saying he’s dangerous, which look, he is dangerous. He’s a powerful dude. He’s undefeated. That’s a story in itself. You’ve got the story of what happened in my last fight. People are like, ‘Oh, is he coming back too soon?’ All this is a part of the story. When I look at it, I’m like, ‘Mate, I’ve been in camp for that long. I’m hearing people saying, Oh, he’s back too soon.’ I just can’t see it.
“I’ve been busting my ass for that long. I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ Like, I’ve had that much time. This has been a very long camp for me. Obviously I followed all the protocols after it from concussion and that like, I’m lucky enough to have a great team around me. But we followed that to a T, and that’s why the fight was pushed back a month because we just thought January was rushing. We wanted that extra month where I could ease into it and then start camp. That’s what we did.”
I like what we're hearing from Volk here. If he loses I don't think it's because he rushed back - he's facing a talented younger fighter and Volk at an age where we would expect to see some decline. I could see Volk getting caught but I could just as easily see him putting on a masterclass and schooling Topuria. That's what makes this fight so hotly anticipated. War-Volk.
Dana White on UFC potentially going to trial in the antitrust lawsuit: “I never think about it ever. It has nothing to do with me” 🧢 (via @aaronbronsteter)
Correction: In Le v Zuffa, the Judge has denied Defendant’s motions for summary judgment & to exclude testimony from Plaintiffs’ experts Singer & Zimbalist & deferred on Davis. A hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow re: his testimony. So trial is a go now.
DDP backing onto the fence early in fights while he tries to get reads could be a big story in round one because we know Strickland is going to want to walk him down.
Champ Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis keep their skills sharp. Mike Malott checks in for a massive opportunity. Athletes including Raquel Pennington an...
Pennington's latest run has been solid but I'm hyped for MBS. These candid moments are great to see - I thought it was hilarious that she was embarrassed to see subtitles on one of her interviews even though she was speaking English. The UFC haven't done her any favours in terms of promoting or hyping her fights but perhaps they should - I think we see a submission in the third.
By putting on shows at the Apex and not making more of an effort with the global audience the UFC risks losing eyeballs in certain regions. This is a solid effort by PFL. If I'm not mistaken the last time they put on a show in Paris it wasn't broadcast around the world. I hope they've addressed that because as they pushes to compete with the UFC they will need to bring the global audience in as well as selling out stadiums.
Magny is a big step up in competition for Malott. Keen to see if he rises to the challenge. As the article talks about, he's shown great fundamentals so it's time to if that's enough to keep winning and what happens if the formula doesn't work.
If Jim Miller ends up in the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't be mad, but I kinda agree with DC here. The quality of his opponents and wins doesn't seem elite. There are impressive wins like Oliveira, Lauzon, Cerrone and Gomi but his ceiling was always outside the top 5. There's no shame in celebrating his longevity and enjoying what he's got left - it doesn't mean he should go into the Hall of Fame.
[SPOILER] Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega (dubz.link)
Official poster for Ribas vs Namajunas (i.redd.it)
[SPOILER] Winner of Aoki vs. Lineker post-fight interview: “When my relationship to Chatri, a man I thought of as a friend, became one of “boss and employee”, I really came to fucking hate him... b... (twitter.com)
青木マイク #ONEChampionship #青木真也
Andy Foster is proposing a change to the "Grounded Opponent" definition. "Any part of the body besides their hands or feet comes in contact with the canvas" (i.redd.it)
‘That’s the bulls***, man’: Khamzat Chimaev expresses frustration with Dana White about possibly not getting title shot at UFC 300 (www.mmafighting.com)
Khamzat Chimaev says he’ll be ready for UFC 300, and if he doesn’t get the call, he’ll be none to pleased with the UFC and Dana White.
WWE moves Raw to Netflix in massive $5 billion deal, what that means for UFC broadcast rights (www.mmafighting.com)
WWE announced a landmark deal to move the company’s flagship show to Netflix for a reported $5 billion price tag over 10 years but what exactly could that mean for the future of the UFC with a broadcast rights deal coming up in 2025?
Tom Aspinall says Stipe Miocic turned down UFC 300 fight, pledges to stop 'crying' about legends matchup (mmajunkie.usatoday.com)
All signs are pointing toward Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, and Tom Aspinall realizes he’s likely the UFC’s odd man out.
[SPOILER] Cris Cyborg vs. Kelsey Wickstrum (streamable.com)
Watch “unnamed” on Streamable.
[SPOILER] Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis (dubz.co)
[SPOILER] Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (dubz.co)
[SPOILER] Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott (dubz.co)
[SPOILER] Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev (dubz.co)
The Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment in Saudi Arabia @Turki_alalshikh has revealed that he has asked the UFC if there is chance he could have Conor McGregor fight in the Kingdom of S... (x.com)
Alexander Volkanovski says he's had plenty of time to prepare for UFC 298: "I’m not doing this just to get my head right. I want to be busy and I know it's enough time" (sportshyped.com)
Alexander Volkanovski says he’s head plenty of time to prepare since his defeat for UFC 298 in a recent sit-down with Michael Bisbing.
Sean Strickland -125 Favorite Over Dricus Du Plessis (i.redd.it)
Dana White on UFC going to trial, "I never think about it ever. It has nothing to do with me." Also says they never proposed a fight card to the Saudis (twitter.com)
Dana White on UFC potentially going to trial in the antitrust lawsuit: “I never think about it ever. It has nothing to do with me” 🧢 (via @aaronbronsteter)
Cedric Doumbe's next fight announced in Paris @ The Arc de Triomphe (twitter.com)
Cedric Doumbe’s next fight announced in Paris for @PFL
[John Nash] Correction: In Le v Zuffa, the Judge has denied Defendant's motions for summary judgment & to exclude testimony from Plaintiffs' experts Singer & Zimbalist & deferred on Dav... (twitter.com)
Correction: In Le v Zuffa, the Judge has denied Defendant’s motions for summary judgment & to exclude testimony from Plaintiffs’ experts Singer & Zimbalist & deferred on Davis. A hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow re: his testimony. So trial is a go now.
Dricus Du Plessis: Thick, Long AND Strong? [Boicast 89 Preview] (youtu.be)
UFC 297 Embedded: Vlog Series - Episode 4 (www.youtube.com)
Champ Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis keep their skills sharp. Mike Malott checks in for a massive opportunity. Athletes including Raquel Pennington an...
[MMA FIGHTING] Tom Aspinall on a potential bout between him and Alex Pereira: "If he wants to, I will, but I’m going on record and saying I’m not a bully. I don’t bully smaller guys. But, if the sm... (i.redd.it)
Takeru Against Petdam in 2020 (v.redd.it)
PFL Paris sold out in 20 minutes (x.com)
A closer look at Mike Malott's perfect UFC run ahead of his UFC 297 fight with Neil Magny. (www.opennotegrappling.com)
Jim Miller fires back at Daniel Cormier, who still isn't sold on his UFC Hall of Fame worthiness (mmajunkie.usatoday.com)
Jim Miller’s continuous winning ways won’t change Daniel Cormier’s mind on his status as a future UFC Hall of Famer.