Tag: UFC 294

Video: Discussing the wild, weird moments of UFC 294, including that now-infamous cageside doctor

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses the wild and weird moments of UFC 294, including a few strange decisions from the cageside doctor.

UFC 294 saw more than its fair share of strange moments.

The pay-per-view event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi saw a number of low blow fouls, illegal strikes, and peculiar decisions by the cageside doctor. Unfortunately for the fighter on the receiving end, a strike will stray south from time to time. It’s an inevitable part of the striking element of MMA, as kicks are often aimed at the lower region of the body.

On the preliminary portion of the card, a kick from Javid Basharat landed low, causing Victor Henry to fall to the canvas in pain. If that wasn’t bad enough, the doctor entered the cage not to check on Henry, but to tell him the kick didn’t land illegally. Henry, still writhing in pain, couldn’t believe his ears. Ultimately, the fight was ruled a no contest.

The same doctor made his presence felt on the main card when he determined Johnny Walker was unable to continue after Magomed Anklaev landed an illegal knee to the head. Walker, who was grounded at the time the strike connected, appeared to be ready to continue moments after the referee paused the fight. But the doctor nearly caused a brawl when he told the referee Walker could not proceed.

We asked our “Spinning Back Clique” to look back at the strange occurrences. Farah Hannoun, Nolan King, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their conversation in the video above, and check out this week’s full episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Video: Did Khamzat Chimaev do enough against Kamaru Usman to get a title shot?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses if Khamzat Chimaev solidified a UFC middleweight title shot by defeating Kamaru Usman at UFC 294.

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] may be next in line for a UFC title shot in the middleweight division. At least, that’s what the UFC promised the winner of the UFC 294 co-feature bout ahead of the main event in Abu Dhabi.

Chimaev was originally scheduled to compete against Paulo Costa at the event, but just 10 days ahead of the event, he learned a replacement opponent would be needed. Enter Kamaru Usman. The former UFC welterweight champion stepped up on short notice looking to rebound from a pair of losses to Leon Edwards, but Chimaev walked away with his hand raised.

Although Chimaev started off very strong with a 10-8 round, many believe Usman won the next two rounds. Considering how the fight played out, and the questions about how Chimaev would have looked if it were a five-round fight, can we confidently say he’s a lock for the next title shot ahead of other contenders?

Dricus Du Plessis has a very strong case for a shot at UFC gold, but if the promotion sticks to its word, he could get passed over for the undefeated Chimaev.

We asked our “Spinning Back Clique” to discuss the middleweight title picture, and where Chimaev fits. Farah Hannoun, Nolan King, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their conversation in the video above, and check out this week’s full episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Oct. 24: Islam Makhachev climbs P4P

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

The UFC’s latest pay-per-view event was the source of a number of changes in this week’s rankings.

First and foremost, UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] continued to prove he’s one of the best in the world today by stopping Alexander Volkanovski in the first round of the main event. He could climb no higher than No. 1 in the lightweight division, but his performance adds to his impressive resume, resulting in movement in the pound-for-pound rankings. Makhachev is now No. 2, behind Jon Jones.

The co-main event saw [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] take on former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a short-notice contest at middleweight. Chimaev pulled off the victory by majority decision, and despite bouncing back and forth between two weight classes, claims the No. 9 spot in this week’s update.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Alexander Volkanovski adamant about January UFC title fight vs. Ilia Topuria: ‘I don’t need a break’

Despite a crushing defeat at UFC 294, Alexander Volkanovski’s plans haven’t changed: He wants Ilia Topuria in January.

UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s plans remain the same: Fight [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] in January.

Volkanovski is adamant about a quick return to the octagon, despite getting knocked out this past Saturday in a rematch against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) had been rumored for a title defense against Topuria in January prior to taking the short-notice fight against Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC). And even after getting stopped for the first time in his UFC career in violent fashion, Volkanovski’s sights are still set on that first UFC pay-per-view of 2024.

“I talked to the UFC and I said keep me busy, and I say that because, again, I’m in my prime, I need to fight,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “A lot of people are like, ‘He needs a break and this.’ I don’t need a break. I want to get back in camp.

“I obviously talked to doctors to make sure there’s no concussion, the stitches and what not, but like I said I’m the best version of myself inside and outside the cage when I have a clear direction. And clear direction is having a fight. I think January still looks great to me. Ilia Topuria is obviously a very exciting fight, and I can shift all of my attention to that. You’re going to see a better version of myself in January, I promise you that. I cannot wait for it. Again, I’m all good, and thank you all for the support.”

Volkanovski had gone up to lightweight hoping to capture a second UFC title. Prior to that, he had fought in July when he defended his belt against dangerous striker Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. He won that fight by TKO.

Volkanovski had arm surgery shortly after the fight in August and took the rematch with Makhachev on less than two weeks’ notice. Despite the unfavorable result, the 35-year-old doesn’t regret his decision to take the short-notice bout at UFC 294.

“I still stand by that decision because I believe in myself all the time, and I think people should challenge themselves,” Volkanovski said. “I’ve been a big advocate for people to challenge themselves and put themselves in this position. High risk, high reward, I’m a big believer in that.

“I was chasing greatness. I think I’m a little disappointed that I wasn’t the professional and disciplined person that I was the last few months that I usually am. So the timing of this fight coming while I wasn’t in the gym as much as I’d like to be. I wasn’t getting the rounds I usually am, and that’s what you’ve seen.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Video: What’s the takeaway from Alexander Volkanovski’s stoppage loss at UFC 294?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses Alexander Volkanovski’s second loss to Islam Makhachev, and how he should proceed after UFC 294.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] wanted to get one back against Islam Makhachev on short notice, but things went wrong quickly in his second opportunity to win a second UFC title.

The UFC featherweight champion stepped in on less than two weeks’ notice to replace Charles Oliveira, who could not compete against Islam Makhachev in the UFC 294 main event due to a nasty cut suffered in one of his final sparring sessions. Volkanovski raised his hand and entered with confidence, saying he was looking to finish Makhachev in their lightweight title rematch.

Unfortunately for Volkanovski, he was the one who was stopped in the first round after a powerful head kick found its mark.

Despite the outcome, Volkanovski didn’t waste time saying he wanted to remain active. He’s already eyeing a placement on January’s UFC 297 card for a featherweight title fight against Ilia Topuria. Is that the right play, or should he take some time off after a devastating finish? Was there anything else that stood out about Volkanovski’s performance in Abu Dhabi?

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We asked our “Spinning Back Clique” to discuss the biggest takeaway for Volkanovski in this loss. Farah Hannoun, Nolan King, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their conversation in the video above, and check out this week’s full episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Alexander Volkanovski elaborates on emotional UFC 294 post-fight comments: ‘I want everyone to know that I’m OK’

Alexander Volkanovski unexpectedly was overcome with emotion after UFC 294, and he’s glad that it spread some awareness on mental health.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s emotional UFC 294 post-fight comments caught a lot of people by surprise.

Following a disappointing KO loss at UFC 294 on Saturday, Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) had an held back tears in front of reporters as he vented about mental health struggles, saying he was “doing my head in” in the months prior to taking the short-notice rematch against Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC).

The UFC featherweight champion is known for his dominant reign at 145 pounds and his high-level skills, but he’s also known for being a happy, positive and charismatic figure, which is why many didn’t see Volkanovski’s comments coming after UFC 294.

On Tuesday, Volkanovski took to his YouTube channel to elaborate on what he’s been going through and assured fans that he’s OK.

“So straight after the fight, I did the post-fight press conference and I want people to understand that, yeah, there was a raw emotion seen, but I want everyone to know that I’m OK,” Volkanovski explained. “I think that people have to remember that I did just come off getting tagged, knocked out. I lost. I knew that legacy wise and all that, all those things start coming into play, so that was obviously hurting me.”

Volkanovski said he had a lot of pressure built up given the recent birth of his daughter and arm surgery after UFC 290 that slowed down his training. Taking the fight against Makhachev was almost a return to normalcy for him.

The 35-year-old Volkanovski knows he doesn’t have much time left in his career, which is why the pressure got to him.

“Sometimes you put a lot of pressure on yourself because I know I need to make the most of me in my prime because my days are numbered,” Volkanovski said. “Me and my wife, we’re great. We have a beautiful family, and we’re good. I want everyone to know that. I don’t want everyone thinking that it’s not like that.

“It’s just me trying to deal with being a high-performance athlete and me not being able to fulfill that side of things, especially the last three months. When I’m in camp, there’s a specific direction, and it’s easy when it comes to that, and I’m still very present at home. I’m probably even a better dad when I’m in camp. I’m ticking all the boxes, but it was harder to do that the last few weeks when everything was happening. I want everyone to know that it was just more of the timing, and that’s why you see me a little more vulnerable in the press conference after getting knocked out and having that sort of situation.”

Volkanovski said many fighters reached out to him, not only in support but also asking him for advice. He doesn’t regret breaking down and wants to normalize these types of conversations in hopes to lessen stigma around mental health issues.

“One thing that I do want to say, even though I’m fine, I’m sort of glad you guys got to see that raw emotion, and we do touch on the mental side of things when it comes to everyone, not just fighters and athletes, anyone in general.” Volkanovski said. “I think that it’s good for awareness. I think these are conversations people should be having.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Video: Is Islam Makhachev an all-time great, or is the jury still out?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel discusses Islam Makhachev’s current standing in MMA history.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] made a statement in his win at UFC 294.

The UFC lightweight champion looked better than ever when he took out featherweight champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] with a first-round knockout after he landed a head kick. Not only did Makhachev put a stamp on his rivalry with Volkanovski, but the 31-year-old has now won 13 straight fights, is 14-1 in the UFC, and has finishes in six of his past seven appearances.

Is it time that we place Makhachev’s name among the all-time greats in the lightweight division? If that status is a little premature, what more does he need to do to solidify his place among the best to ever do it at 155 pounds? What about all-time great status regardless of division?

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We asked our “Spinning Back Clique” to look at Makhachev’s resume from a historical perspective. Farah Hannoun, Nolan King, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their conversation in the video above, and then check out this week’s complete episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Video: Alexander Volkanovski receives hero’s welcome at airport after UFC 294 defeat

Even in defeat, UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski is still a hero in the eyes of many.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] didn’t walk away from UFC 294 victorious, but the love he received proved unwavering regardless.

When Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) arrived home in Australia, he was greeted by his family and friends – and a traditional haka performance.  There were hugs, gifts and cheers as Volkanovski was welcomed back with open arms.

“That was a surprise. I had no idea,” Volkanovski said in a video posted by the UFC. “I was walking out and I’d seen a few … it caught me by surprise. I choked up a little bit coming down, and I ended up holding it together over here. Obviously I really appreciate everyone. The support has been incredible.”

The UFC featherweight champion, Volkanovski challenged Islam Makhachev for the promotion’s lightweight title Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and was knocked out by a head kick in Round 1. The loss was his second unsuccessful title challenge vs. Makhachev, who also defeated him by split decision at UFC 284 in February.

After the fight, Volkanovski explained the hardships of being a high-level competitor as he held back tears during a raw post-fight news conference. Volkanovski aims to return to featherweight in January and defend his title vs. Ilia Topuria.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Daniel Cormier: Islam Makhachev now MMA’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter after UFC 294

Daniel Cormier thinks Islam Makhachev staked his claim as No. 1 pound-for-pound after UFC 294.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] staked his claim as No. 1 pound-for-pound after UFC 294.

Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) retained his title against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) a second time in this past Saturday’s headliner at Etihad Arena – this time, in a much more decisive way.

Makhachev beat Volkanovski by close decision at UFC 284 in February, but was able to knock him out in just one round in their rematch.

“The way he was able to separate himself from Alex over the course of eight months – special,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel.

Makhachev wasn’t able to overtake Volkanovski’s No. 1 pound-for-pound spot despite beating him in February. But when Jon Jones returned one month later to claim the heavyweight title with a quick finish of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March, he took the top spot, moving Makhachev down to No. 3.

But Cormier thinks Makhachev’s definitive finish of Volkanovski should make him No. 1.

“It was awesome to watch,” Cormier said. “He’s the best. Now people will start to wonder if he will be a better world champion than Khabib, if he’s going to be the greatest lightweight of all time. I don’t know if that’s going to happen – it’s going to take a little more.

“But I think you have to take Khabib’s whole career into effect when that happens. There’s work to be done for Makhachev to be considered the greatest of all time. But what can’t be denied is that he is now the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and why? because of the person that he just beat and the fashion that he just beat (him). It’s unreal.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Sedriques Dumas figured Abu Azaitar might pull out again – not pull his hair at UFC 294

Sedriques Dumas won his second straight after a loss in his UFC debut, but dealt with a unique situation against Abu Azaitar at UFC 294.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag] beat Abu Azaitar with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Take a look inside the fight with Dumas, who won for the second straight time after a loss in his UFC debut in March.