UFC 295 – Page 21 – Syndication Server

Jessica Andrade books fifth fight of 2023, meets Mackenzie Dern at UFC 295 in New York

Jessica Andrade will look to tie the record for most fights in a year at UFC 295.

[autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] will look to tie the record for most fights in a year at UFC 295.

Andrade (24-12 MMA, 15-10 UFC) takes on [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The event airs on pay-per-view following prelims expected on ESPN and ESPN+.

The matchup was announced during Saturday’s UFC 292 broadcast and later was confirmed by Andrade on social media.

Having already competed four times in 2023, Andrade will tie the UFC record for most fights in a calendar year when she makes the walk against Dern, and will become the only female fighter to do so. But Andrade finds herself in unfamiliar territory. The former UFC strawweight champion has lost three straight for the first time in her career, most recently a submission setback to unbeaten Tatiana Suarez earlier this month in the UFC on ESPN 50 co-main event.

Dern has split her past four appearances. After dropping a five-round majority decision to Yan Xiaonan last October, the jiu-jitsu blackbelt ace rebounded with a Fight of the Night effort against Angela Hill in May – in what was her third career headliner.

With the addition, the UFC 295 lineup currently includes:

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
Derek Brunson vs. Roman Dolidze
Kevin Borjas vs. Joshua Van
Jessica Andrade vs. Mackenzie Dern

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

Colby Covington: Jon Jones told UFC brass he refuses to share card with me, fears press conference shame

According to Colby Covington, his title fight with Leon Edwards could remain on hold because of a Jon Jones request to the UFC.

According to [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] refuses to fight on the same card as him.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) is set to headline UFC 295 where he’ll defend his title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC), who’s slated to challenge welterweight champion Leon Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), wants to book his title fight for the same card.

Covington has not minced his words when speaking about Jones, who was his college roommate, throughout the years, and thinks the UFC needs him and Edwards as a backup on the card given Jones’ troubled past outside the octagon.

“Is Jon Jones going to be willing to share a card with his former college roommate who knows all his dirty secrets, all the dirty skeletons in his closet?” Covington said in an interview with Michael Bisping on his YouTube channel. “I bet that he’s going over to the UFC right now and he’s telling them, ‘Yo, I’m not sharing a card with Colby. I will refuse to fight here.’

“So, the only way I see that fight happening is, we know Jon’s unpredictable, we know he might go sniff some white girls, kind of like Joe Biden. He’s not to be relied on. He might get pulled off the card, and we might have to save the day and be the main event.”

Covington went so far as to say that he was told that Jones specifically requested from UFC brass that Covington doesn’t share the same card as him.

“A little birdie told me, Michael, that he went backstage with the suits and the big dogs of the UFC and said, hey, he refuses to share a card with me,” Covington said. “So, they’re gonna give him what he wants. They don’t want to ruin their New York show, and they’re still hoping he shows up. But they need a backup plan. He’s not reliable. I’m the ultimate company man.

“When I say – and I give my word to the UFC – that I’m showing up, I’m showing up. I’ve never, ever pulled out of one fight. I’m always the ultimate professional, and that’s what I do best. The UFC knows they can rely on me. That’s why I’m in this position. It sucks that Jon doesn’t want to share a card. It wouldn’t even be talking sh*t, Mike. It would just be talking truth. If you can’t handle the truth in today’s society, then go get a safe space.”

Covington also accused Jones of taking steroids early in his athletic career, which he said caused Jones to lash out on him.

“It all went sour when he started doing steroids to bulk up,” Covington said. “So, his mood swings and all the stuff he was putting in his body was affecting his emotions, and he had mood swings. He would literally just be bipolar. One day he would be completely fine and we would be best friends; the next day he would just be like, ‘Oh, Colby! Your shoes are messed up wrong. Why didn’t you put them perfectly in the corner?’ I’m like, ‘Bro, it’s just my shoes. What’s the big deal? We’ve been tighter than that and closer than that for long enough.’

“Not even that, Mike. Look at the piece of sh*t that he is. His last felony, he’s beating up his wife, left his wife a bloody mess in that hotel and went to jail. This guy is a dirtbag. Hitting a Bentley with two hookers in the back. Hitting a pregnant lady at a stop sign, then fleeing the scene with drugs. It’s just countless thing after thing, failing steroid tests. The truth is the truth. I don’t have any skeletons in my closet, and I want the world to see it. I don’t want him being painted in a good light because he’s not a God-fearing man. He’s an evil spirit.”

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

Dana White: ‘Bad motherf*cker’ Jon Jones will only get credit he deserves when he’s gone

Dana White thinks UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones doesn’t get enough credit.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] thinks UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] doesn’t get enough credit.

Although Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) is widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time – if not the greatest, White thinks he will only truly be appreciated once he hangs up his gloves.

“He’s one of the greatest fighters of all time, period, in all of combat sports, and I don’t think people give him enough credit,” White said on a recent episode of “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson.” “The guy is undefeated. He’s never lost in MMA. Went right through murderers’ row at light heavyweight as a young f*cking guy. Then moves up to heavyweight and wins at heavyweight.

“… Jon Jones is one of those guys that when he is gone is when he will really get the credit that he absolutely deserves. He is a bad motherf*cker, 100 percent.”

Jones makes his first title defense against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 295 headliner on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims expected on ESPN and ESPN+.

Jones hinted at potential retirement after fighting Miocic, but White thinks that will depend on which opportunities present themselves.

“Jon’s talking about retiring after that fight, but we will see what happens – we’ll see how it plays out,” White said. “I mean, he’s so f*cking good.

“I think it will depend on what challenges are out there for him after that fight, if he wins, if he can beat Stipe. Realistically, if you look at it, Stipe is looked at as the greatest heavyweight ever, (and) Jon Jones is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.”

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

Macy Chiasson hopes for UFC 295 vs. whichever top contender left out of title picture

UFC contender Macy Chiasson is ready to take on whoever misses out of the vacant bantamweight title fight.

DALLAS – [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] is ready to take on whoever misses out on the vacant bantamweight title fight.

Since Amanda Nunes retired, an unofficial three-woman race between [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag], [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag], and [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] for the next bantamweight title fight has emerged.

Whatever direction the UFC goes, Chiasson (8-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) wants the fighter who doesn’t get the title opportunity. The “Ultimate Fighter 28” winner is currently recovering from a wrist injury, and would love to return on the UFC 295 card Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.

“That would be tight. I would like that,” Chiasson told MMA Junkie. “I would really like that. I really want to be on that MSG card in November in New York. Whatever they have planned, I would love to have the opportunity to fight one of those girls that gets kind of knocked out (of the title picture).

“So, other than that, I really want to break into the top five. It’s been a long time coming, and I’ve had ups and downs and injuries, highs of highs, and lows of lows, and I’m ready to be in that position. I’m 32 now and I’ve been in the UFC almost five years, I’ve had 10 fights so, I’m ready to start pushing for that spot.”

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Putting herself in the shoes of the matchmakers, Chiasson thinks the UFC should go with former champion Peña vs. Pennington as the vacant bantamweight title fight.

“I think Raquel is up-and-coming for that title shot because she’s been a vet for a long time. She’s been around. She beat me at 145, and I think she’s deserving of that spot,” Chiasson said. “She beat (Irene) Aldana so, I think it’s ‘Rocky’s’ time to go back and fight for that title with Julianna.”

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

Stephen Thompson reciprocates interest in fighting Kamaru Usman, wants it at UFC 295

Stephen Thompson is down to fight Kamaru Usman next.

[autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] is down to fight [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] next.

Thompson (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) was asked his thoughts on Usman expressing interest in facing him, and he’s all for it.

“Wonderboy” was expected to face Michel Pereira this past Saturday at UFC 291, but the bout was scrapped after Pereira missed weight, and Thompson opted not to fight him. Thompson is yet to be paid his show money despite doing his part of making weight.

“I did hear that because my phone got blown up with what he was saying,” Thompson told TMZ. “Everybody on social media was like, ‘Man, he said this, he said this, he said this.’ I was hoping something positive will come out of last weekend and to hear that news – he has always been somebody, him, those guys in the top three who I’ve never faced before.

“Kamaru Usman has always been a guy that I just never had the opportunity to face off against. For him to say he was willing to fight, and it makes sense at this point, is awesome. I’m all for it, to be honest with you. I am all for it.”

Thompson said that since fighting Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title in 2017, Gilbert Burns is the only opponent he’s faced that was ranked above him. So to get the opportunity to fight former champion Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC) would be perfect for him, and he’d love it to take place at UFC 295 on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.

“To be able to have a shot at the No. 1 seed, are you kidding me? And a good athlete, a good person in Kamaru Usman, I’m all for it,” Thompson said. “I love battling those type of guys. The guys with professionalism, those guys that are good people inside and outside of the octagon. We’ve hung out a few times and we’ve always been very cordial, but that would be awesome. MSG or whenever he wants to do it. I’m looking at MSG right now.”

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

Chael Sonnen: Jon Jones fears no one, said yes to Sergei Pavlovich before Stipe Miocic booking at UFC 295

It may have been hard for him, but Chael Sonnen gave former rival Jon Jones, the UFC’s heavyweight champion, a big compliment.

SALT LAKE CITY – It may have been hard for him, but [autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] gave his former rival [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] a big compliment.

Sonnen coached Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite side Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) in 2013, and the pair fought at UFC 159. Jones finished Sonnen by first-round TKO to retain his light heavyweight title.

Jones returned from a layoff in excess of three years to quickly submit Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and capture the vacant heavyweight belt. He’s scheduled to make his first title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 295 headliner on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden.

According to Sonnen, Jones had initially accepted to fight surging contender Sergei Pavlovich, and complimented him for his willingness to fight anyone.

“I’ll give you some inside scoop: They didn’t know they were going to get Stipe and Jon Jones was asked, ‘Will you fight Sergei Pavlovich?’ He was asked this behind the scenes and he said yes,” Sonnen told MMA Junkie. “Jon Jones is not scared of anybody.

“I don’t love Jon Jones, but I will tell the story the way it happened, and to make believe that Jon Jones is scared to fight somebody is false. … It is a big compliment, and it hurts. It pained me to say that. He said I had boobs. I’m over here defending him and he said I had boobs. Those are pecs, Jon.”

Jones hinted at retirement after fighting Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC), but Sonnen isn’t buying it.

“Jon’s a prizefighter. He doesn’t have enough money to retire,” Sonnen said. “I don’t say that to be a d*ck. He does not have enough money to retire. So no, there’s no question (he’ll keep fighting). The whole retirement (threat) angle is terrible, by the way. All you do is alienate fans.”

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

Colby Covington hopes Leon Edwards title fight is at UFC 295 because ‘Jon Jones is unreliable’

Colby Covington thinks UFC 295 needs a big backup fight – and it should be him.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] thinks UFC 295 needs a big backup fight – and it should be him.

UFC 295 is headlined by heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC), who defends his title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) is slated to challenge welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) next. He hopes their fight lands on UFC 295 because he doesn’t think the UFC can depend on Jones.

“You heard what Dana White said in his interview,” Covington told Submission Radio. “He said, ‘Hey, it’s looking like this is going to go to the Garden.’ And let’s talk about why it deserves to go to the Garden: Because first off, not only is Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington fourth-highest gate in the history of Madison Square Garden – it’s just facts; I’m up there above Rolling Stones, Muhammad Ali, Hulkamania, all these great figures, and here I am, Colby Chaos Covington, fourth-highest rate. I bring the electric factor every time I come to fight, so it makes sense that this goes to the Mecca. And guys, let’s talk about it. Everybody keeps saying 30th anniversary. They put it on the gloves: 30th anniversary. It’s a big deal for the company.

“And I love this company so much. I’m a company man. I love UFC. It’s such an honor to fight for UFC. So let’s do the biggest and best business we can do in the Mecca, the heart, Madison Square Garden. New York City is Trump country. It is Colby Covington country. This fight needs to go to Madison Square Garden. We all know why. Jon Jones is unreliable. Come on, let’s be honest. The guy could fail his steroid test. He could beat his wife again, end up in jail. He could do all these different things. Wasn’t he the first guy that ever got a whole entire event canceled for him?”

Covington is likely referring to UFC 151 in September 2012, which then light heavyweight champion Jones was scheduled to headline against Dan Henderson. Henderson withdrew, and Jones was offered short-notice replacement Chael Sonnen which he declined. As a result, the event was canceled.

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

Israel Adesanya says plan to train with Jon Jones already ‘in the works’

UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones squashed their beef after they ran into each other in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] and [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] apparently squashed their beef after they ran into each other in Las Vegas.

During UFC 290 fight week, Adesanya encountered Jones at the hotel bar and the two champions chopped it up. Videos emerged of them lightly sparring which warmed some fans’ hearts.

For years, middleweight champion Adesanya and heavyweight champ Jones traded barbs, and even angled for a fight. However, “The Last Stylebender” said their pure chance run-in officially has ended any rivalry they had.

“I said it’s no one’s business,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Like, when I posted about it, I was like, it’s between me and him. That’s it. But it definitely wasn’t a fake encounter. I think it was divine intervention. I honestly do because I feel like there are so many timelines that could have ended up just differently.”

Jones and Adesanya’s back-and-forth happened during Jones’ light heavyweight title reign. Adesanya even attempted to move up a weight class during Jones’ time off, but failed to capture the 205-pound title against then champion Jan Blachowicz in a decision loss at UFC 259.

“We have understanding, common ground, and we’re competitors – that’s it,” Adesanya said. “We’re competitors. But why should I hate my brother, if that makes sense?”

Not only did Adesanya and Jones have a conversation, but the pair plan on training together soon.

“Already – it’s in the works. It’ll happen,” Adesanya said.

Adesanya is gearing for the first title defense of his new reign against Dricus Du Plessis, which will potentially take place at UFC 293 on Sept. 9 in Sydney. Meanwhile, newly crowned heavyweight champion Jones will meet Stipe Miocic in the UFC 295 headliner on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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Stipe Miocic plans to beat Jon Jones ‘in every aspect of the game’ at UFC 295

Stipe Miocic is not intimidated by the challenge of dethroning Jon Jones.

[autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] is not intimidated by the challenge of dethroning [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag].

Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) takes on Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) for the heavyweight title in the UFC 295 headliner Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The two-time UFC heavyweight champion thinks as long as he doesn’t allow Jones to get comfortable, he’ll be able to prevail.

“I’m not going to let him dictate what he wants to do,” Miocic said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “I’m going to dictate what I want to do. I’m going to do what I want because the minute I let him stop doing what I want, I’ve lost the fight. But if I do what I want, my chances are a lot better of winning than losing.”

Jones used his wrestling to run through Ciryl Gane and capture the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 after over three years away from the octagon. But whether standing or on the ground, Miocic is confident he has the advantage.

“I’m walking out with the belt wrapped around my waist: ‘And new …’ There’s no question about that,” Miocic said. “I’m just going to beat him in every aspect of the game. I’m definitely going for the finish.”

Miocic now is a full-time firefighter, which former champion Dominick Cruz recently expressed concern over. He questioned the impact it could have on his training, but Miocic insists it’s not an issue.

“I’m doing everything I’m supposed to,” Miocic said. “I haven’t changed anything I’ve done. I can still work out at the station. I can do things there, too. It’s not like every day is a sparring day or a pad day. It’s conditioning, lifting. There’s recovery days. I don’t understand people.”

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