Spinning Back Clique: Is McGregor-Cerrone or Khabib-Ferguson more compelling?

MMA Junkie’s John Morgan, “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” unpack the latest MMA news and notes in Episode 5 of “Spinning Back Clique.”

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. In this week’s episode, John Morgan, “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” react to the latest news, notes and fight bookings, as well as look ahead to UFC on ESPN 7 this weekend.

Show rundown:

Finally, we can discuss [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] news that has to do with cagefighting, as the former two-division UFC champion was booked to headline UFC 246 against [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]. But the Jan. 18 fight isn’t taking place at lightweight; it’s taking place at welterweight. So, what exactly is at stake here?
It’s happening. … We think. … We hope. For the fifth time, [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] has been booked. The 155-pound title fight is set for what should be UFC 249 on April 18 in New York. Will the fifth time be the charm in us finally seeing this fight, and what can we expect from this point on?
Whether it’s MMA or grappling, former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] just seems off. He was cut early before losing a decision to Nick Rodriguez last week at Polaris 12. Combine that with two devastating knockout losses in his last two MMA fights, as well recent comments that his heart isn’t into fighting anymore, and you’ve got to wonder: Where does he go from here with his combat sports career?
UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Tito Ortiz[/autotag], who meets ex-WWE superstar Alberto El Patron this weekend in Combate Americas, got mad at MMA Junkie last week, calling us “click bait” for writing a story highlighting his comments about current UFC light heavyweight champ [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]. “I think I can beat Jon Jones,” Ortiz said. “I think I have a good chance – I really do think I’ve got a good chance.” His words, not ours. So when you hear that, what’s your take on it?
UFC on ESPN 7 this Saturday features [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] in a heavyweight main event. And in the co-headliner, [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] fights [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] at strawweight. Of those four fighters, who has the most to gain with an impressive victory?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 5 of “Spinning Back Clique” in the video above. And make sure to weigh in on McGregor vs. Cerrone in our poll below.

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Off Guard: Retired from fighting, Robert Drysdale explains unique coaching mindset

Undefeated as a fighter, Robert Drysdale has officially called it quits and is turning his attention to coaching.

[autotag]Robert Drysdale[/autotag] is calling it quits on his fighting career.

Well technically, he retired awhile back, but he didn’t let anyone know it right away. However, in a recent post on Facebook, Drysdale (7-0) officially announced the end of the road.

Earlier this month, he opened up to MMA Junkie about the decision to call it quits despite going undefeated as a pro.

“I just didn’t want to do it anymore,” Drysdale said. “My heart wasn’t in the right place. I always told myself I was going to do it for the right reasons … because basically I wanted to prove to myself I could. … There were some things missing that I would have liked to have done, but nothing’s perfect.”

What’s next for Drysdale? The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, like many other retired fighters, will continue his legacy in MMA as a coach. Unlike his fellow retirees, however, a coaching position is where Drysdale started out in MMA – not as a fighter.

“There’s a reason why people turn into coaches once they retire,” Drysdale said. “And my career was backwards in that regard. I was cornering UFC title fights when I was 0-0 into my late 20s. So it’s not something I was prepared for. It’s very different now.”

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Drysdale believes the unusual journey to this point will give him an advantageous mindset as a coach. Throughout his MMA career, he was able to analyze the coaching he received from a coach’s perspective.

“My mindset as a coach is a reflex to my mistakes as a fighter or the things that I thought my coaches weren’t doing right in my opinion,” Drysdale said. “I’ve learned from that experience. … I think there’s a lot more to MMA than being technically and physically and mentally ready.”

Drysdale was successful inside the cage, but that doesn’t mean he always felt comfortable. The mental and emotional toll of fighting weighed on Drysdale, which is one aspect he won’t have to weigh as a coach.

“I’m more confident about this than I ever was about my fighting career,” Drysdale said. “Fighting was always something very difficult because I had to confront my fears and anxiety. I was terrified of fighting, and it was very difficult for me emotionally.

“Because some these guys walk into the cage like it’s nothing. To me, it was very hard. I overcame that even though it was very difficult. Even though I did well, I was never as confident about that career as I am about my career as a coach. Because I really feel that this is my calling more than fighting was.”

In his lone UFC appearance, Drysdale submitted Keith Berish at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in July 2014. The victory was eventually ruled a no contest after Drysdale tested positive for elevated testosterone levels. He was subsequently released by the UFC.

After he served his suspension, Drysdale return to pro MMA action at Legacy FC 58 in July 2016 when he submitted future UFC light heavyweight Ryan Spann by second-round rear-naked choke.

Check out MMA Junkie’s full “Off Guard” interview with Robert Drysdale in the video above.

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Off Guard: Cody Stamann looks to make statement against Song Yadong

Cody Stamann admits that Song Yadong is nasty, but is looking to beat the (expletive) out of him at UFC DC.

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] could break into the top tier of bantamweight contenders as he looks to make a statement on Dec. 7.

Stamann (18-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 7, and while he admits that he’s in for a tough challenge, he’s confident that he has the game plan to beat him.

“I don’t know about excited, that kid is nasty,” Stamann told MMA Junkie. “He’s a nasty little (expletive) for sure but same thing, I got to beat his (expletive) and cut the paycheck. I don’t really see it any different than anything else. I just got to stylistically prepare for what he does well, and I do that really well. I’m good at game planning and scheming and figuring out ways to beat people and things are starting to come together.”

Stamann recently suffered his first setback in almost four years, in a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 228, but was able to rebound with a unanimous decision over Alejandro Perez in his last outing in March.

Yadong (15-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on the other hand, is off to a 4-0 start in the UFC, notching three performance bonuses in the process. In his last outing, he scored a first round knockout over Perez at UFC 239, the same opponent Stamann last fought.

“I see a lot of guys that rise and fizzle out,” Stamann said. “I’m not saying that he’s that guy, he’s got a lot of really great people around him, he’s a really good athlete but it doesn’t make a difference. Dec. 7, I’m going to beat the (expletive) out of him. That’s all there is to it.”

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And with the recent additions of former champions and future hall of famers Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo to the division, Stamann is excited for the possibility to one day throw down with these legends.

“You got Aldo and Edgar coming down to (1)35 and those are two more legends to add to the already stacked division so it’s insane, and those are fights that I want,” Stamann said. “I’m excited about it, I think a lot of guys are probably shitting their pants because oh no all these really good guys are moving into bantamweight. I’m pumped about it because I do think I can beat those guys, and I think I’m going to peak at just the right time as an athlete to kind of get those legends like Edgar and Jose Aldo, right at the ends of their careers.”

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