Tag: UFC 272

Dana White: Islam Makhachev must fight Beneil Dariush next ‘since he turned down’ Rafael dos Anjos

Islam Makhachev will have to fight again before a title shot after he allegedly flip-flopped on fighting Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] will seemingly have to fight one more time before a UFC title shot after he allegedly flip-flopped on a short notice replacement fight on Saturday.

After Rafael dos Anjos lost his original opponent for UFC 272, Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) was one of the fighters who offered his services. The surging lightweight contender is fresh off a main event win over Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night 202 this past weekend, but put his hand up to fight dos Anjos in a bout that has been canceled three times before.

Dos Anjos was all in on the situation, even offered to move up to welterweight to alleviate pressure off Makhachev for a big weight cut. The momentum died there, though, because shortly thereafter it was confirmed Renato Moicano would fight dos Anjos at UFC 272. The former UFC champ and Makhachev subsequently blamed each other for it failing to materialize.

UFC president Dana White offered some clarity to exactly what happened on Wednesday, and he pointed the finger at Makhachev and his team for the fight not happening.

“I thought we had it done,” White said in an interview with Barstool Sports. “When I went to bed one of the nights there, I thought it was done. Woke up the next morning and found out (Makhachev) turned it down.

“It’s, ‘What’s the best fight that you can possibly make?’ The best fight that we could possibly make would’ve been him and Islam. RDA vs. Islam. Islam turns down the fight, ‘What’s the best fight you could make?’ Moicano.”

Although White did not outright express any anger or frustration toward Makhachev, who is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak and high in the queue for a title shot at 155 pounds. However, it appears Makhachev’s push for a championship bout between the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7 will go unfulfilled.

Instead, White said he wants to see Makhachev fight [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (21-4-1 MMA, 15-4-1 UFC), who suffered a serious leg injury that forced him out of UFC Fight Night 202, where he was replaced by Green.

“I love the Dariush fight,” White said. “Since he turned down this fight we’re going to remake the Dariush fight. Dying to see that fight. And then (if) he gets through Dariush, it’s very interesting.”

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UFC 272 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Joe Rogan returns to booth; Daniel Cormier not on call

Joe Rogan will return to the booth at UFC 272, but Daniel Cormier won’t be part of the broadcast team for Saturday’s event.

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The third numbered UFC event of the year is rapidly approaching with UFC 272 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

Jorge Masvidal won’t squash beef with Colby Covington after UFC 272: ‘He’s talked about my kids’

Jorge Masvidal says he will never show Colby Covington respect no matter what happens at Saturday’s UFC 272.

LAS VEGAS – No matter what happens at UFC 272, [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] won’t settle things with Colby Covington.

The BMF champion and long-time UFC contender is adamant that he’ll never squash his beef with Covington (16-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) no matter what goes down in their main event welterweight contest at Saturday’s UFC pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.

Masvidal (35-15 MMA, 12-8 UFC) meets his former friend and teammate in a much-anticipated bout that’s been building up for years. The two have built one of the most heated rivalries today following their fallout that ended with Covington leaving American Top Team due to an alleged unfulfilled payment to Masvidal’s coach.

In Covington’s last fight, which was also a contentious rivalry with champion Kamaru Usman, Covington showed respect following the bout, telling Usman the trash talk was just to sell the fight.

Well, Masvidal is not even remotely open to a ceasefire of any kind and warns Covington to keep his distance following their fight on Saturday.

“He would never dare (to shake my hand),” Masvidal told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 272 media day. “He wouldn’t get close to me in any circumference or anything like that. He wouldn’t put himself at a chance where I can end his ass again, especially because he’s talked about my kids.

“My kids don’t do a pay-per-view sell. People don’t go, ‘Oh he’s talking about his kids. I’m going to tune in now.’ He talked about Usman’s dad, calling him all type of things, and Usman’s mom – and then you’re going to say, ‘It’s business. I’m just selling pay-per-view. I love you, bro.’ He had said for months that he wouldn’t shake this man’s hand. That shows how much of a coward he is and what a snake he is. He’ll say whatever and whenever and then when the light is on him, when it’s time to be man, he does what he does.”

Covington hasn’t held back when trash talking Masvidal both in the lead up to this fight and prior to their booking. “Chaos” has talked about Masvidal’s kids and former partner.

“I can’t respect him in any way, shape, or form,” Masvidal said. “Kind of like Ben Askren. I don’t care for Ben Askren. If Ben Askren were at a place and he said something to me, we can either fight or not. If he’s cool, I’m cool. But with Colby, it will always for as long as we live, we’ll always have a problem just because he mentioned my religion and kids.”

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Masvidal is eager to get in the cage with Covington because he wants to stop him as “violently” as possible. Yet, bad blood aside, Masvidal won’t consider Covington a good name for his record if victorious at UFC 272.

“With my victories, it will rank, it will put me as a No. 1 contender and I’ll be competing for the title shortly after, so that’s definitely a plus,” Masvidal said. “But as far as having beaten great fighters, I won’t even talk to my grandkids about this guy.

“It would just be some personal stuff, I beat some dude I really didn’t like and that’s it. But as far as accomplishments, he won’t rank in there. I don’t like his style and how he fights. I’m going to make it look really easy come Saturday night.”

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‘I’m a fighter’: Bryce Mitchell scoffs at ‘grappler vs. striker’ label for UFC 272 Edson Barboza bout

Bryce Mitchell sees himself as more than just a grappler ahead of his bout with Edson Barboza at Saturday’s UFC 272.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag] strongly thinks he’s more than just a grappler.

The rising UFC featherweight is not happy with the generalization that his upcoming bout against veteran Edson Barboza is simply a grappler versus a striker matchup on the main card of UFC 272 in Las Vegas.

Mitchell (14-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) feels the people labeling him a grappler are overlooking his other strengths in his game.

“I mean that’s how y’all can look at it, but I’ve had 30-something fights, legal fights, and I’ve never started a fight on the ground – believe it or not,” Mitchell told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 272 media day. “Every single fight I’ve started it on the feet and I’ve never said, ‘Hey, you wanna fight? Let’s start in the guard.’

“The fights engage on the feet, so I don’t look at myself as a (grappler). I’m a fighter. Whatever people want to label me that’s whatever they want to. That’s fine. They’re open to their own interpretation.”

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Barboza (22-10 MMA, 16-10 UFC) has been fighting in the UFC since 2010. He’s one of the more experienced fighters on the UFC roster. Mitchell looks up to the Brazilian and admires who he is inside and outside the cage. Either way, the 27-year-old is not going to let his high regard for Barboza get in the way of his fighting on Saturday night.

“Well, he’s going to try to do all sorts of stuff to my face,” Mitchell said. “I respect him to the end, but we’re going to battle it out, brother. It’s going to get ugly in that cage, but I don’t wish nothing but good for him in his life.”

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UFC 272 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Bryce Mitchell spits rhymes on the flight to Vegas

Go behind the scenes with the big-name fighters of UFC 272 for the third time during fight week.

The UFC returns to Las Vegas on Saturday for its third pay-per-view of the year with UFC 272, which means the “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 272 takes place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 272 features a welterweight grudge match at the top of the bill as former best friends [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] and [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] square off in the night’s headliner. And in the new co-main event, former lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Ajos[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag], who accepted the fight on four days’ notice after Rafael Fiziev was forced to withdraw.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Colby Covington stays high energy in interviews and training. Rafael dos Anjos adjusts to a new opponent in a new weight class. Bryce Mitchell and Edson Barboza head to Vegas; Jorge Masvidal checks in for fight week.”

Also watch:

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Video: UFC 272 media day live stream

Follow along with our live video stream from UFC 272 media day in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – Fight week is officially underway for the UFC’s third pay-per-view event of the year.

UFC 272 media day kicks off the fight week activities for Saturday’s event at T-Mobile Arena. Starting at approximately 1 p.m. ET, MMA Junkie will live stream media day.

UFC 272 media day features headliners [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] and [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag], as well as a host of other fighters competing on the card.

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Below is the full lineup (all times ET, subject to change):

  • 1:15 p.m. – Greg Hardy
  • 1:45 p.m. – Alex Oliveira
  • 2 p.m. – Bryce Mitchell
  • 3 p.m. – Jalin Turner
  • 3:15 p.m. – Edson Barboza
  • 4 p.m. – Jorge Masvidal
  • 4:15 p.m. – Jamie Mullarkey
  • 4:30 p.m. – Colby Covington
  • 5:15 p.m. – Serghei Spivac
  • 5:30 p.m. – Kevin Holland

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Kevin Holland didn’t want UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, explains why

Kevin Holland didn’t give Dana White the best first impression, but apparently he wasn’t trying to?

[autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] didn’t exactly give Dana White the best first impression, but apparently he wasn’t trying to?

Holland defeated Will Santiago at Dana White’s Contender Series 9 in June 2018 but did not earn a UFC contract for his efforts. White wasn’t particularly impressed with Holland’s “Big Mouth,” and it appeared to cost him.

But in a recent interview with UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald, Holland revealed that he didn’t even want a UFC contract on that night, and there’s a reason why.

“My game plan was not to finish Santiago,” Holland said. “Sounds stupid, right? That was my first fight ever that I was gonna win by decision as a pro. I didn’t want the contract. From my understanding, I didn’t want to deal with USADA. I was scared of USADA. I was like, if I can’t smoke weed, I’m not gonna wanna do this.”

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Just two months after the Contender Series, Holland would get the UFC call regardless. He stepped in on short notice against Thiago Santos but fell short in a valiant effort. That would just be the beginning for Holland though, who would go on to win eight of his next nine bouts. He capped off an incredible 2020 by tying the UFC’s record for most wins in a calendar year at five when he scored an incredible knockout of Ronaldo Souza.

After going winless in his past three fights, Holland will look to seek new life when he returns to 170 pounds against Alex Oliveira on Saturday’s UFC 272 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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UFC 272: Make your predictions for Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal (Updated)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 272 event in Las Vegas, featuring the Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal grudge match.

(Editor’s note: Updated at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, to reflect new fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Renato Moicano.)

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 272 event in Las Vegas.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 272 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 272 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

UFC 272 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: A tour of Colby Covington’s pad for ‘all you nerds and virgins’

Go behind the scenes with the big-name fighters of UFC 272 for the second time during fight week.

The UFC returns to Las Vegas on Saturday for its third pay-per-view of the year with UFC 272, which means the “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 272 takes place at T-Mobile Arena. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

UFC 272 features a welterweight grudge match at the top of the bill as former best friends [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] and [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] square off in the night’s headliner. And in the new co-main event, former lightweight champion [autotag]Rafael dos Ajos[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag], who accepted the fight on four days’ notice after Rafael Fiziev was forced to withdraw.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Bryce Mitchell trains with his father figure; Rafael dos Anjos with his spider son. Colby Covington offers a tour of his temporary home. Jorge Masvidal grapples at the UFC PI. “

Also watch:

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Spinning Back Clique: Islam Makhachev’s dominance, Gegard Mousasi’s statement, UFC 272 look-ahead

Check out “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, our panel of Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss these five topics with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia:

  • This past Saturday night, [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] defeated Bobby Green in the UFC Fight Night 202 main event. The fight didn’t get out of the first round, and Makhavchev made it known that he wants a title shot in the lightweight division, of course meaning the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. The question here is which matchup would be more favorable to Makhachev, and why? Should he actually be favored?
  • Because the UFC lightweight division is stacked with talent, this might be the marquee division in the sport. So, is Makhachev the clear No. 1 contender? Keep in mind that Rafael dos Anjos fights Saturday. He’s a former champ. He could derails plans. [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] owns a win over Gaethje. He could derail plans. [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is a pay-per-view machine that wants to return in the summer. He could derail plans. Even Beneil Dariush, he had an injury setback. He could derail plans.
  • Also this past weekend, [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] ran right through Austin Vanderford to retain his middleweight title at Bellator 275. This was his third overall title defense and afterward, Mousasi staked his claim as the top middleweight in the world. Do you agree? If not, where do you rank him?
  • Turning the page to this week, two guys, who don’t like each other, get to punch each other in the face at UFC 272. You know the story: Former best friends, roommates, training partners, turned enemies. So, does [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] or [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] have more at stake on Saturday night, and will the loser be able to rebuild from a loss of this magnitude?
  • With such a big spotlight on Covington vs. Masvidal this Saturday night, the rest of the UFC 272 card hasn’t been spoken about as much. What’s your other most pivotal fight to watch and why?

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Tuesday on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch the full episode in the video above.