Category: Spinning Back Clique

Video: How ready is Tom Aspinall for UFC champ Jon Jones?

Maybe it’s just recency bias, but does Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall sound about right after UFC London?

Is it just recency bias, or does UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] sound about right?

In his return from a devastating knee injury that put him on the shelf for a year, Aspinall looked every bit the top heavyweight contender that he was before as he made quick work of Marcin Tybura in this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 224 main event in London.

At the beginning of the year, the talk was all about Jones vs. Francis Ngannou. A few months ago, Jones vs. Sergei Pavlovich was all the rage. For now, we know that Jones is set to put his title on the line against former champ Stipe Miocic on Nov. 11 at UFC 295 in New York.

Assuming Jones wins and continues fighting, would you rather see him defend his belt against Aspinall or Pavlovich? Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Danny Segura, Farah Hannoun and Brian “Goze” Garcia answer that with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

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You can watch the segment in the video above, as well as this week’s full episode below.

Video: Jake Paul is ‘pissed off’ about Nate Diaz’s lack of promotion before they fight. Does he have a point?

It feels like Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz was a bigger deal when it was announced a few months ago than it is now just a few weeks away.

When it was announced in April, the fight between [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] and [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] felt like a big deal as it finally both men agreed to meet in the ring to settle their differences after two years of social media (and sometimes in-person) beef.

Since then, though, things have been dialed down, something Paul admittedly is “pissed off” as, in an interview last week with MMA Junkie, he blames Diaz for not doing his part to promote the fight.

“He talked a lot more sh*t to me before we signed up to fight,” Paul said. “So, he’s kind of being a b*tch in that sense. I expected more out of him, and I expected him to carry that gangster attitude and to not take my insults. But he’s pretty much rolled over like a b*tch and has been quite boring.”

Couple that with Diaz’s concern about being tested for marijuana in Texas, where the fight is being held, and you have to wonder: Does the fight feel like it’s lost its luster, and can they get it going before the Aug. 5 showdown in Dallas?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of special guest Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, Mike Bohn and Brian “Goze” Garcia answers those questions with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

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You can watch the segment in the video above, as well as this week’s full episode below.

For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.

Video: How should UFC handle Jamahal Hill’s unexpected relinquishing of light heavyweight title?

The UFC light heavyweight division is back to where it was not so long ago: without a champion.

UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] ruptured his Achilles tendon this past week, leading to him relinquishing the belt.

With a lengthy rehab in front of him, Hill opted to vacate the title and said he did so because he didn’t want to hold up the division in the same way former champ Jiri Prochazka vacated after he was injured last year.

Was this the right? Or should the UFC have done an interim title? And how does the promotion handle the situation as it stands?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of special guest Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, Mike Bohn and Brian “Goze” Garcia answers those questions with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

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You can watch the segment in the video above, as well as this week’s full episode below.

Video: How could Francis Ngannou possibly upset Tyson Fury in boxing?

Francis Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, joins “Spinning Back Clique” to discuss the recently booked fight with heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury.

Former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] took a gamble when he left the promotion, but it’s about to pay off after Ngannou booked a boxing match with WBC champ [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] set for Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia.

Win or lose, Ngannou has already won big given the millions he will make from this one fight alone after he decided not to re-sign a restrictive contract offer from the UFC. Combined with his flexible and lucrative PFL deal, Ngannou is already winning big.

Ngannou, who’s never competed in a professional boxing match, understandably will be a huge underdog when he steps in the ring with Fury, but it’s heavyweight, where one punch is all it takes. And Ngannou certainly has unparalleled power when he lands clean. We’ve seen it time and time again in the cage.

So what kind of chance does Ngannou have to pull off the unthinkable against Fury, and how does he make it happen? Who better to weigh in than his coach, Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, who joined this week’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn and Brian “Goze” Garcia as they discussed the topic with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

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You can watch the segment in the video above, as well as this week’s full episode below.

Video: Looking back at the UFC Hall of Fame career of Robbie Lawler

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses the best moments from UFC Hall of Famer Robbie Lawler’s career.

[autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] rode off into the sunset as a UFC Hall of Famer and a winner of his retirement bout.

The former UFC welterweight champion decided to call an end to his legendary career at UFC 290, where he picked up a knockout win over Niko Price to walk away on a high note after his 25th UFC bout, 46th overall. Not to mention Lawler was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame two days prior for his classic all-timer against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189, where he retained the welterweight title.

Memorable fights and Lawler go hand-in-hand. Throughout his career, from his early UFC run in 2002 until the very end, “Ruthless” created highlights. But which fight was your personal favorite?

Was it his Pride appearance in 2006? What about something from his Strikeforce run from 2009-12? Lawler had some wild moments in EliteXC too.

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to talk about Lawler’s career and their favorite moments.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

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Video: Discussing the historical significance of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295

Our “Spinning Back Clique” debates how legacies could be affected in the UFC 295 main event between greats Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.

The biggest UFC heavyweight title fight possible has finally come together, as champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will face former champ [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] at UFC 295.

The marquee matchup will go down Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The greatest light heavyweight of all time Jones returned to action earlier this year to capture a title in his second division by defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Now, for his first title defense at heavyweight, Jones will face Miocic, who is widely considered to be the best heavyweight ever.

Neither fighter has been active as of late. Miocic last fought in March 2021 in a loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260. Prior to his return this March, Jones’ previous fight was in February 2020, a victory over Dominick Reyes in his final bout at light heavyweight. Despite not seeing these greats in action often at this point in their careers, there is much to learn from this fight.

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If Jones defeats Miocic, is he hands down the greatest fighter of all time? Where would a win over Jones place Miocic in the GOAT conversation?

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to talk about this historic matchup.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Video: Is Ilia Topuria or an Islam Makhachev rematch the better fight for UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski?

Should Alexander Volkanovski try to silence Ilia Topuria or dethrone Islam Makhachev after his UFC 290 title defense?

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] solidified his status as undisputed champion with a dominant win in the UFC 290 main event, and now many are left wondering which move he’ll make next.

After Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) scored a third-round TKO of interim champion Yair Rodriguez this past Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White essentially put the future in the champ’s hands.

White said he would take Volkanovski’s preference under significant advisement, and his two options seem clear: A title defense against unbeaten contender Ilia Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who has talked a whole lot of trash about the Aussie. Or, a rematch with lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC), who handed Volkanovski his only octagon loss at UFC 284 in February.

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It seems “The Great” is leaning toward wanting the rematch with Makhachev, but is that the wisest move for his career?

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to talk about the possibilities.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

Video: How uncomfortable was Israel Adesanya’s racially charged faceoff with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel discusses the UFC 290 faceoff between middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] had beef with [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] for weeks before their Saturday faceoff.

But now the heat really is going to be turned up.

After his dominant win over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290, Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) punched his ticket to a title fight with Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC). Then things got ugly.

Adesanya was born in Nigeria in Africa, but lives and trains in New Zealand. Du Plessis was born in South Africa and has lived there his whole life. That fact is what has caused tension between the two.

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That boiled over Saturday when the UFC brought Adesanya into the cage for a faceoff with Du Plessis. Among the trash talk from Adesanya was around a dozen uses of the N-word directed at Du Plessis, apparently to mock him for his past comments about being African.

When UFC president Dana White was asked after UFC 290 about concerns that his champion brought race into the faceoff to end a pay-per-view with his repeated use of the N-word, White said he didn’t care and that it wasn’t racial.

The whole thing set up what could be a very heated buildup to a fight likely to happen at UFC 293 in Sydney in September.

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Mike Bohn joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to talk about the matchup, the tension and the controversy.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

Spinning Back Clique: Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis faceoff, UFC 290 recap, Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, more

This week’s “Spinning Back Clique” dives into the fallout from an epic UFC 290 event and Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic title bout announcement.

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:

  • [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s dominant third-round TKO title defense over [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] in the UFC 290 main event and whether he should fight [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] at featherweight or [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] at lightweight next.
  • [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] claiming the flyweight title from [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] by split decision in a Fight of the Year contender at UFC 290 and what should be next for the new champ at 125 pounds.
  • [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]’ massive second-round TKO upset of Robert Whittaker in the UFC 290 featured bout and subsequent faceoff with [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag], which got heated and was filled by racial slurs from the current middleweight champion leading into a potential title grudge match at UFC 293 in Sydney on Sept. 9.
  • The UFC 295 main event announcement between heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and former titleholder [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  • [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag]’s fairytale career ending at UFC 290, which saw the former welterweight champion knock out Niko Price in just 38 seconds before he retired from MMA.

“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.

Video: Will we see a new champion crowned at UFC 290?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” predict which fighters will prevail in the main and co-main event title fights at UFC 290.

Gold will be on the line in the main and co-main event of UFC 290.

First up in the co-feature, flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] meets a familiar foe in [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]. The pair have fought twice in the past, with Pantoja holding two victories over Moreno. Although one of the victories was an exhibition bout during “The Ultimate Fighter,” their third meeting will be the most significant yet.

Has Moreno’s game elevated enough to squash the problems that Pantoja presented in the past?

In the main event, the featherweight title will be unified when champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] shares the octagon with interim champ [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]. While Volkanovski went up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev for a second title, Rodriguez claimed a piece of the title by defeating Josh Emmett.

Will Volkanovski continue his reign over the featherweight division, or will Rodriguez’s dynamic style bring about a change in the guard?

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to discuss which fighters will leave Las Vegas with gold.

Check out the video above, and the latest complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.