Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,457, the guys bring on UFC women’s strawweight [autotag]Vanessa Demopoulos[/autotag], who fights Emily Ducote next month in Las Vegas. They also discussed the latest news, including Jones Jones’ return, Justin Gaethje, BKFC, Jose Aldo and much more. Tune in!
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,456, the fellas welcome in guest Ben Rothwell, who fights Todd Duffee at Knucklemania 4. They also looked back at the PFL’s first half of the season, Luke Rockhold’s return, Ryan Garcia’s upset boxing win, and much more. Tune in!
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,455, the lads bring on longtime Junkie Radio guest [autotag]Ricardo Lamas[/autotag]. They also previewed the PFL’s final event of the first half of the season, looked ahead to upcoming cards, discussed the latest UFC news and much more. Tune in!
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,454, the gents look back at one of the most monumental events in MMA history, UFC 300, and the many storylines that came out of it. They also brought on guest [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] ahead of his Friday return at PFL 3 in the start of the featherweight season. Tune in!
Patricky Freire knows Clay Collard can bring it, but doesn’t believe he’s the most dangerous lightweight in the PFL.
[autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] is days away from his PFL debut, and couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to face new opponents.
At 2024 PFL 2 on April 12 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Freire (25-12 MMA, 0-0 PFL) faces Clay Collard in their first lightweight bouts of the regular season. It will be Freire’s first fight under the PFL banner after the promotion acquired Bellator, where ‘Pitbull’ called home since 2011.
“I fought like close to everybody in Bellator,” Freire told MMA Junkie Radio. “So now it’s different, and now I have new opponents, new challenges. It’s going to be great. I’m very excited to show how ‘Pitbull’ bites.”
Behind his exciting, all-action fight style, Collard (24-12 MMA, 6-4 PFL) has become an attraction during the PFL’s regular and postseasons. Last year he won three straight to reach the championship, but came up short of the title and $1 million prize. Freire is excited to get the opportunity to share the cage with someone like Collard for his first PFL fight since his Bellator days.
“I love the fight against him,” Freire said. “He loves to fight with the hands, me too. He loves to fight like a fireworks, me too. So, it’s going to be great. Don’t blink, guys. I’m very excited to show my power.”
While Freire knows what Collard brings to the table offensively, he doesn’t believe his opponent is the hardest out on this season’s roster.
“No, I don’t think so,” Freire said when asked if Collard is the toughest opponent in the division. “I believe there are more dangerous guys like (Brent) Primus and (Gadzhi Rabadanov). These two guys are very strong guys, very strong fighters. … Let’s see what happens.”
At 38, Freire joining the PFL’s regular season came a surprise to some. The grueling pace of making weight repeatedly over shorter periods of time has turned some of the Bellator veterans away, but Freire is up for the challenge, at least for now.
“I don’t know,” Freire said when asked how much longer he plans to fight.”But now I can do this, I can beat my opponents. I can finish my opponets, so I don’t stop right now. I keep hungry. I’m going to keep fighting this year. I don’t know about next year, but this year, I’m very excited. I’m happy to show my game in PFL.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2024, Week 2.
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,452, the fellas bring on former Bellator champ [autotag]Patricky Freire[/autotag] ahead of his PFL bout against Clay Collard. They also discuss UFC Fight Night 240 and the first week of the PFL’s regular season bouts. Tune in!
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,451, the fellas bring on former Bellator heavyweight Daniel James ahead of his PFL debut. They also discuss the latest news, including Ronda Rousey, Mike Tyson, Max Holloway and more. Tune in!
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,450, the guys welcome Bellator women’s flyweight champ Liz Carmouche and Bellator heavyweight Linton Vassell ahead of their first regular season bouts this Thursday at 2024 PFL 1 in San Antonio. The guys also unpack the fallout from UFC on ESPN 54, Brandon Moreno’s decision to step away from MMA, and more. Tune in!
Jon Anik isn’t sure if he wants to hang around long enough to be able to call UFC 400, but won’t rule it out.
UFC play-by-play commentator [autotag]Jon Anik[/autotag] isn’t quite sure if he wants to be the man on the call by time the next big milestone event rolls around.
Anik debuted as a UFC commentator in 2012 at UFC on FX 1. Ever since, he has firmly planted his flag as one of the best on the mic, continuing to improve over time. He will be on the call for the upcoming milestone UFC 300 event on April 13, and although he doesn’t see an end to his run as a commentator in sight, he isn’t ready to say for certain he will be around for UFC 400.
“As trite as it sounds, nothing is guaranteed,” Anik told MMA Junkie Radio. “So, I have to have that mentality, I have to have that approach. And as I’ve said repeatedly, I’m trying to create a gap between me and all the guys trying to come get my jobs. So, that’s really my focus.
“Gosh, I mean, to think about being in year 23 of doing this, eight years from now, I mean, I don’t know. I think that’s a tremendous run. I still think there are a lot of sports broadcasters, even Brad Nessler this weekend in his late 60s, still crushing it on the NCAA tournament. I just don’t know if I want to be that 55, 60-year-old guy sticking around getting the way of the young guys. At least right now, and for the indefinite future, my focus is on my craft. It is on mixed martial arts play-by-play, and trying to get better in terms of my preparation, my process and my performance for every show. … Hopefully, I can call UFC 400, but we’re just trying to make it to UFC 300 right now.”
If the UFC keeps up its current pace of events, UFC 400 will likely take place around eight years down the road. Anik, who recently re-signed with the UFC in 2022 for an undisclosed period, says his availability will depend on several factors. However, he certainly won’t need to be dragged off the mic if his performance slips.
“I feel like my inner circle is honest enough and tight enough that if I started to lose a step a little bit – and I’d probably notice it watching it back – but verbally, as soon as I start to lose some of the orating skills, I’m not going to be a corpse up there just cashing a check, trying to be up there for legacy or nostalgia,” Anik said. “I’ll be long gone.”
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,449, the guys welcome in UFC commentator Jon Anik. The fellas also discuss the announcement of the UFC Saudi Arabia card, which is headlined by Robert Whittaker vs. Khazmat Chimaev. Tune in!
