Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
It’s Mother’s Day 2023, and despite being among the toughest characters in all of sports, MMA fighters aren’t against well wishes.
It’s another Mother’s Day, and despite being some of the toughest and most tenacious characters in all of sports, MMA fighters aren’t against well wishes.
Check below to see a collection of tweets and Instagram posts from MMA fighters and personalities across the globe celebrating Mother’s Day on social media.
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To keep his playoff hopes alive, Chris Wade will take a kill-or-be-killed approach heading into 2023 PFL 4.
[autotag]Chris Wade[/autotag] will take a kill-or-be-killed approach heading into 2023 PFL 4.
Wade (22-9) meets [autotag]Ryoji Kudo[/autotag] (11-5-1) on June 8 at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. “The Long Island Killer” will look to rebound from his loss to Bubba Jenkins in the season opener at 2023 PFL 1.
In order to keep his playoff hopes alive, Wade could really use a finish. And that’s what he’s aiming for.
“I cannot afford to go down in some type of like slow, dragged out, back-and-forth, grappling-heavy situation,” Wade told MMA Junkie Radio. “I need to be OK with the risk of going out on my own shield. I told everybody, ‘I just want to let you know: Somebody’s going down. It’s me, or it’s him, but somebody’s going down.'”
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Wade has just seven career finishes, but two of them came in recent knockout wins over Kyle Bochniak and Arman Ospanov. He plans on digging deep into that version of himself.
“There’s another level,” Wade said. “This level is nothing. The place that I’m gonna take myself to is gonna be a special place. You can’t get there and go there all the time, but I promise you guys that. Watch this fight, because this is one where I need to leave my stamp and show the world what I’m capable of when I’m at my most aggressive, when I’m at my most motivated. When people write me off, when people turn their back on me, I thrive in that sh*t. I really do. And that’s the place I’m at right now.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL 4.
Kayla Harrison hasn’t fully given up hope of a superfight with Cris Cyborg, but if it happens, it likely won’t be under the PFL’s banner.
SUNRISE, Fla. – [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] hasn’t fully given up hope of an eventual superfight against [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag], but if it happens, it likely won’t be under the PFL’s banner.
Women’s featherweight champion Cyborg (26-2 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) re-signed with Bellator this past week in what the promotion called an “historic” deal. Terms were not disclosed. Cyborg most recently fought a little more than a year ago with a unanimous decision title defense against Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279.
After her contract was up, she decided to explore free agency. The months-long process is thought to have included all major promotions, including her former UFC home. But ultimately, she returned to Bellator, which took the possibility of a fight against Harrison (15-1) in the PFL out of the equation.
Instead of taking part in PFL’s women’s featherweight season, Harrison, a two-time $1 million season winner at lightweight, stayed out of the season and playoff format for 2023 hoping for a pay-per-view-level fight against someone like Cyborg.
“I know that the goal was for me to fight Cyborg,” Harrison told MMA Junkie this past Friday at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. “I know that PFL pushed hard for that. That was my goal, as well. That’s why I have been quiet – haven’t really made a lot of noise. I wanted to be in the season, but I understood their reservations on that. And they really felt my best use would be in a big-name fight – a pay-per-view fight – and that looks like that’s not going to happen.
“I’m on God’s time. I’m not on my time. I’m in the gym every day. I’m getting better. I’m enjoying the process. I’m frustrated because I love what I do and I just want to go showcase it to the world. But I know that when the moment is right, I’ll shine.”
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, said without a fight on the books, she’s been a little antsy. And she said her recently adopted kids have noticed, too.
But she said at the same time, she’s been figuring out how to use the down time to her advantage outside the cage – as well as when she eventually gets back inside it.
“I show up to the gym and I get in fist fights (at practice), but my kids are like, ‘Mom, ugh’ – like I’m overbearing,” Harrison said. “I’m trying to be Supermom and I spend a lot of time with my animals and my plants. I mean it: My life is pretty boring right now. But since I was 12 years old, I’ve been doing two-a-day (workouts).
“This is a different season of my life. This is an opportunity for me to grow as a mom, to grow as a fighter, to grow as a person, and I think that everything is better now. I do everything with joy. I cannot wait until my next fight, whoever it’s against, wherever it is, under whatever lights, whatever circumstance. I’m excited for my next fight. I’m enjoying the process and I can’t wait to go show the world what I’ve been working on.”
As far as the Cyborg fight, Harrison said she’s not throwing in the towel on the potential for it to happen. Now that she’s staying with Bellator, Cyborg will have a featherweight title defense likely against Cat Zingano later this year. After that, another former UFC title challenger, Sara McMann – like Harrison, an Olympic medalist, but in wrestling – is waiting in the wings.
But Harrison said at end of 2023, she can test the free agency market again – and hinted strongly at the possibility she could make her way to Bellator in 2024, where a fight with Cyborg would be tentpole event for the promotion, the same as it would be if it was for the PFL.
“I never say never,” Harrison said. “I had a lot of hope. I think that’s why I was a little bit bummed when she re-signed, because I thought it was going to happen. This is the second time in my life where I was like, ‘OK, this is happening. Get ready.’ And it didn’t happen. But I never say never.
“My contract’s up in December. Bellator knows where I’m at, and I would love to make that fight happen. I’m not talking sh*t anymore. I just want to fight her. That’s it. I want to fight the best. I want to test myself. I want to continue to grow as a human being and a fighter, and I think that she is a person who can push me to the next level. There’s no matching rights. There’s no exclusivity deal. There’s no 30 days, there’s no championship clause, there’s nothing. When my contract is up, my contract is up.”
If Harrison left the PFL for Bellator, she said it would be nothing personal and just a business decision.
“Listen, I love the PFL. They’ve been nothing but good to me. I have nothing but good things to say about them. I started my career with them. They have done an amazing thing in the space, in the sport. I believe in the format. I believe in the system. I do believe it should be performance based. And I want to fight the best. That’s it.”
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Cedric Doumbe never got to make his highly anticipated UFC debut in 2022. Instead, he’ll next lace up the MMA gloves for the PFL.
[autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] never got to make his highly anticipated UFC debut in 2022. Instead, he’ll next lace up the MMA gloves for the PFL.
Doumbe (4-0) has signed with the PFL, the promotion announced Wednesday. Doumbe posted on Twitter that his debut date with the promotion will be June 23 in Atlanta, though an opponent was not announced.
📅Next fight : JUNE 23
🔰Atlanta
🥊MMA – @PFLMMA
I’m here to take over ⚠️#doumbe #TheBest #KO1 pic.twitter.com/rnwwZ5b37S— Cédric Doumbè (@CedricDoumbe) May 10, 2023
Doumbe, a former Glory Kickboxing champion, was booked for a fight against Darian Weeks at the UFC’s Paris debut this past September, but was pulled from the bout when the commission in France wouldn’t sanction the fight due to the level of experience difference between the two.
Doumbe, a two-time Glory welterweight champ, transitioned to MMA in October 2021. Born in Cameroon, the French fighter has all four of his MMA wins by knockout. In kickboxing, Doumbe had 75 wins – including 45 by knockout.
“I am a unique fighter joining a unique organization in the PFL,” Doumbe said in a release. “I look forward to great success in the PFL.”
The PFL started its 2023 regular season in April with three events in Las Vegas. In June, the fighters’ second regular season bout will take place in Atlanta to set up qualification for the postseason.
PFL officials did not announce if Doumbe will be part of a future welterweight regular season, though that no doubt is the expectation.
“Cedric Doumbe is one of the greatest athletes in the world and a tremendous addition to the Professional Fighters League global roster,” PFL president Ray Sefo said in a release. “Cedric dominated the sport of kickboxing and is poised to do the same in MMA. He is one of the most talented fighters in the world and will make an immediate impact here in the PFL.”
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” live stream covering the biggest topics in combat sports, like UFC 288 and ONE Championship.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Mike Bohn will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.
It appears former UFC heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum is not done fighting, and he’s calling for a big challenge in the PFL.
It appears [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] is not done fighting, and he’s calling for a big challenge.
Werdum (24-9-1) called out Francis Ngannou, who’s currently a free agent after he fought out his UFC contract.
Ngannou has yet to find a new home. BKFC and ONE Championship failed to come to an agreement with the former UFC heavyweight champion, but the PFL recently provided a positive update on its negotiations with Ngannou. If Ngannou does have a future with the PFL, Werdum wants to be the first to welcome him.
“Hi @francis_ngannou I shock the world when I beat Fedor also when I beat Cain And I become undisputed UFC heavyweight champion you have a lot of hole in your game let’s go @PFLMMA @DonnDavisPFL @PeteMurrayPFL only one way to find out PFL smart cage.”
Hi @francis_ngannou I shock the world when I beat Fedor also when I beat Cain And I become undisputed UFC heavyweight champion you have a lot of hole in your game let’s go @PFLMMA @DonnDavisPFL @PeteMurrayPFL only one way to find out PFL smart cage
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) May 4, 2023
Werdum hasn’t competed since May 2021, when he battled Renan Fereira to a no contest under the PFL banner. Werdum appeared to force Fereira to tap out with a choke, but he released the submission when the referee didn’t wave the fight off. Immediately after, he absorbed some heavy strikes that knocked him out. Werdum appealed the result, which was overturned to a no contest.
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Werdum hinted at retirement in March 2022, but it appears the former UFC heavyweight champion still has a desire to compete. It’s also been a while since Ngannou has seen action. “The Predator’s” most recent outing was a unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane in January 2022.
Brendan Loughnane hopes his road to another PFL title goes through Movlid Khaybulaev.
[autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag] hopes his road to another PFL title goes through [autotag]Movlid Khaybulaev[/autotag].
Khaybulaev (20-0-1-1) is the only fighter to beat Loughnane (27-4) in the PFL, edging him out by split decision in the 2021 PFL semifinals. He went on to beat Chris Wade in the finals to win the season and featherweight title.
With Khaybulaev missing last year, Loughnane didn’t get a chance to cross paths with him en route to winning the featherweight title himself. But Loughnane would love the stars to align for a finals showdown with Khaybulaev this year.
“I’m just hoping that the standings for the semis are gonna lie where I actually get him in the final,” Loughnane told MMA Junkie Radio. “I would rather fight him over five rounds this time. I’m a five-round fighter. I just feel like I’ve got massive advantages in the fourth and fifth. So, I’m hoping that I get him over five, but if I have to do it over three, I’m not mad at that either.”
Both Loughnane and Khaybulaev were successful to kick off their 2023 PFL campaign. Loughnane stopped former UFC title challenger Marlon Moraes by TKO at PFL 1, and Khaybulaev scored a unanimous decision over Ryoji Kudo on the same night.
But it wasn’t Khaybulaev who impressed Loughnane in the season opener.
“The only person that stood out to me was Bubba Jenkins,” Loughnane said. “He looked really good against Chris Wade. Apart from that, not really, no. And that’s just being honest.”
Their campaign continues at 2023 PFL 4 on June 8 in Atlanta, where Loughnane is scheduled to face Jesus Pinedo, and Khaybulaev is booked against Daniel Torres.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 4.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submission from April 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best submissions from April 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month award for April.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from April 2023.
With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from April 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month award for April.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” live stream covering the biggest topics in combat sports, like BKFC 41, Nate Diaz and UFC 288.
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura and Dan Tom will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.
