SBC – Fedor’s swan song

On this week’s episode of Spinning Back Clique, host John Morgan is joined by Simon Samano, Danny Segura and “Gorgeous” George Garcia to recap the key storylines from the week and discuss the biggest matchup looking ahead into 2021.

On this week’s episode of Spinning Back Clique, host John Morgan is joined by Simon Samano, Danny Segura and “Gorgeous” George Garcia to recap the key storylines from the week and discuss the biggest matchup looking ahead into 2021.

Spinning Back Clique: Is Conor McGregor facing toughest possible challenge at UFC 257?

Check out the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique” looking ahead to the biggest fight of the early 2021 schedule at UFC 257.

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, host John Morgan is joined by panelists “Gorgeous” George Garcia from MMA Junkie Radio, as well as MMA Junkie managing editor Simon Samano and reporter Danny Segura. Let’s get into it!

SHOW TOPICS:

  • John Kavanagh recently spoke with TheMacLife, and he talked about the possibility of [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] or [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] potentially stepping in for [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] at UFC 257. Let’s all knock on wood that that isn’t necessary, but Kavanagh said – respectfully – that both of those guys are “slightly easier” opponents for [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]. Out of those three guys – and including Dan Hooker, as well – who is the toughest matchup for McGregor?
  • [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] is getting vocal again and claiming that he’s ready to sign a contract with [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] and is simply waiting on the man he calls “Street Judas” to get on board. We know Masvidal is one of the biggest stars in the game, and we know he’ll fight anyone, so what else is going on? Is there a bigger fight to make for Masvidal?
  • Vitor Belfort is the latest MMA fighter to come out and discuss a potential fight with [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag]. UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has said he’s in. Ben Askren. Dillon Danis. The list goes on. It all does seem a bit silly – professional prizefighters taking on a YouTube sensation – but there also seems to be real money at stake. Is there anything wrong with these fighters trying to cash in at their maximum value, or should there be some sort of code of ethics that prevents pro fighters from taking part in these circus sideshows?
  • The UFC’s bantamweight division continues to be a thrilling weight class with a number of viable contenders in line for champ Petr Yan. A resurgent [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] called out [autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag] after his latest win, but [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] also said he’d like a crack at either one of them. We also now know that [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] isn’t willing to just sit around for his flyweight title shot and would like to face Aldo while Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno get their rematch sorted. So knowing we’ve got those four names to work with now – Aldo, Dillashaw, Font and Garbrandt – what are the two fights to make?
  • Bellator president Scott Coker recently said he’s not going to let COVID-19 ruin the retirement fight of MMA legend Fedor Emelinanenko, saying he’s hoping to delay things long enough for the 44-year-old Fedor to fight in front of 30,000 people in Moscow. So, knowing that’s the plan, and let’s say Bellator is willing to open up the checkbook to get anybody they need for this fight, play matchmaker for a second and tell us who’s the best choice to stand on the other side of the cage.

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 59 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.

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Conor McGregor’s toughest match | Spinning Back Clique

On this week’s episode of Spinning Back Clique, host John Morgan is joined by Simon Samano, Danny Segura and “Gorgeous” George Garcia to recap the key storylines from the week and discuss the biggest matchup looking ahead into 2021.

On this week’s episode of Spinning Back Clique, host John Morgan is joined by Simon Samano, Danny Segura and “Gorgeous” George Garcia to recap the key storylines from the week and discuss the biggest matchup looking ahead into 2021.

Twitter Mailbag: What would a win at UFC 256 mean for Tony Ferguson? What about a loss?

You’ve got questions. Nolan King has answers.

Questions on your mind about recent happenings in the UFC or the sport of MMA in general? MMA Junkie’s Twitter Mailbag is here – and this week @mma_kings answers:

  • What would a win for [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] over Charles Oliveira at UFC 256 mean for his career going forward? What about a loss, for that matter?
  • Does [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] have the best chance out of the current UFC flyweight class of knocking off champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]?
  • Who should [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] fight in his UFC debut, and will Ferguson-Oliveira play a role in determining this?

Get your answers to all of these in the video above.

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What’s at stake for Tony Ferguson at UFC 256? | Twitter Mailbag

What’s at stake for Tony Ferguson at UFC 256? | Twitter Mailbag

What’s at stake for Tony Ferguson at UFC 256? | Twitter Mailbag

EA UFC 4 adds Michael Chandler, Alex Perez to playable roster

A pair of top contenders from the lightweight and flyweight divisions are the latest playable characters added to the EA UFC 4 video game.

A pair of top contenders from the lightweight and flyweight divisions are the latest playable characters added to the EA UFC 4 video game.

Former Bellator champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who has yet to make his octagon debut, has been added to to the 155-pound weight class backed by a 4-star rating.

Also, recent 125-pound title challenger [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (23-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will join the roster, with a 4.5-star overall rating in his favor.

EA Sports announced the new additions on Thursday (via Twitter):

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Dana White hints at ‘Fight Island’ debut or Michael Chandler

UFC president Dana White said he was in “no hurry” to book Michael Chandler’s octagon debut, but hinted at his first fight taking place in Abu Dhabi.

UFC president Dana White said he was in “no hurry” to book Michael Chandler’s octagon debut, but hinted at his first fight taking place in Abu Dhabi.

Dustin Poirier: Justin Gaethje would be perfect ‘measuring stick’ for Michael Chandler’s UFC debut

Dustin Poirier thinks Michael Chandler should be thrown right into the deep end for his UFC debut.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] should be thrown right into the deep end for his UFC debut, and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] is the best option available.

Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former three-time Bellator champion, joined the UFC this year and was immediately given prominent positioning from the company in the form of a backup role for October’s lightweight title fight between Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.

Both men ultimately made weight and stepped into the octagon without issue, meaning Chandler’s services were not required. There’s since been speculation of who he would be booked against, but as matchups at the top of the 155-pound weight have been made, the options have narrowed.

Gaethje, Dan Hooker or Rafael dos Anjos appear to the frontrunners, and Poirier (26-6 MMA, 18-5 UFC) said he’d like to see him get the toughest of the bunch, to find out where Chandler really stands.

“I would think it would probably be him and Gaethje before him and Hooker,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “If you’re going to toss him into the top of the division and giving him this push, give him the former interim champ who just came off a title fight. That’s a great measuring stick to see where he’s at.”

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There was talk of Chandler making his UFC debut against Tony Ferguson, but it didn’t come to fruition.

Ferguson is instead fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 256 on Dec. 12, which is another huge fight at lightweight to compliment Poirier’s rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 257 on Jan. 23.

“That’s a fun fight,” Poirier said. “Any fight Tony’s involved in – even Charles – he’s such a fun guy to watch. A finisher, a veteran who has been around a lot time. Those two guys are going to do a great fight.”

Patricio Freire happy for Michael Chandler after UFC signing: ‘He can beat all those guys’

Bellator champ-champ Patricio Freire weighs in on Michael Chandler’s move to the UFC.

Bellator dual champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] is happy for former foe [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag].

Freirie, the reigning Bellator lightweight and featherweight champ, has no hard feelings and is in no way disappointed that Chandler joined the UFC after spending a decade with Bellator. Chandler has plenty of history with Patricio (30-4 MMA, 18-4 BMMA) and his brother Patricky, as Chandler knocked out Patricky to win the vacant Bellator lightweight title and years later in 2019 Patricio avenged his brother’s loss by stopping Chandler to become a two-division champion.

Yet, despite the history and bad blood, Patricio is glad to see Chandler’s recent career move.

“It’s great for Chandler,” Patricio said through his interpreter and coach, Eric Albarracin. “He can beat all those guys. He’s a great fighter, and he has the right tools to beat all those guys over there (in the UFC).

“And to tell you the truth, that’s the only way to see who’s the best in the world in each weight class is to have cross-promotion fights, because then there’s no guessing who’s better or that you have to be in a certain organization to see who’s the best. I’m ready to show that I’m the best in MMA, not only in one promotion, and I’m willing to prove that at any moment.”

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Chandler signed with the UFC in September and was immediately labeled as a replacement opponent for the UFC 254 title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje in October.

Although Chandler has yet to compete in the octagon, Freire thinks the UFC’s decision to immediately throw Chandler in the title mix validates what he’s been saying about Bellator fighters and their standing in the sport.

“That proves that the Bellator fighters are badass,” Patricio said. “We just had a guy leave, and he’s already ready to fight for the title, so that shows what we’ve known all along, that Bellator fighters are just as good if not better. It’s not about promotion; it’s about the fighters. That’s it.”

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Michael Chandler rejects push to step into UFC Fight Night 182 main event: ‘We have other plans’

Michael Chandler won’t be making his octagon debut on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 182.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] won’t be making his octagon debut on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 182.

After Islam Makhachev was forced out of this weekend’s lightweight headline due to staph infection, [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] called upon former Bellator champ Chandler to come in and save the day.

Chandler (21-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) won’t be doing that, though. He answered fans pleading him to step in on Monday, and clarified there are “other plans” in the works for him that don’t involve fighting dos Anjos (30-13 MMA, 18-11 UFC) on short notice (via Instagram):

Chandler, who signed with the UFC earlier this year after roughly a decade with Bellator did not specify what could possibly be on the horizon for him if not for dos Anjos.

However, he’s been pushing for a top opponent in the 155-pound division, though, and has repeatedly labeled Tony Ferguson as the name of greatest interest for his debut.

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