As was highlighted during the UFC’s return in Jacksonville, can we all agree that MMA referees have a tough job?
Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. In this week’s episode, Simon Head fills in to host while “Gorgeous” George, “Goze” and special guest Farah Hannoun recap the UFC’s week in Jacksonville and more. Let’s go!
SHOW RUNDOWN:
At UFC on ESPN+ 29 last Wednesday, the controversy was about referee Jason Herzog allowing Glover Teixeira to beat up Anthony Smith for far too long – prompting an apology from Herzog himself. Then at UFC on ESPN 8 on Saturday, it was about whether referee Dan Miragliotta should’ve stopped it sooner while Walt Harris was swarming Alistair Overeem in the first round – but he didn’t, and Overeem rallied to score a finish of his own. When we see two instances like these, does that underscore the need to cut MMA referees some slack when it comes to appropriate timing of stoppages?
Between UFC on ESPN+ 29 and UFC on ESPN 8, we saw a lot of standout performances. Who was the MVP between the two shows?
UFC president Dana White said the promotion’s return during the coronavirus pandemic was “successful in every way.” Do we agree with that assessment?
[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] is now a thing that’s being seriously talked about after the two men have been going back and forth on Twitter. Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion, has long flirted with the idea of moving up to heavyweight. Is this the fight to make?
Former UFC champion [autotag]Kevin Randleman[/autotag], who died in 2016, was announced as an inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame pioneer wing. We take a trip down memory lane and remember what “The Monster” meant to the sport.
For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 28 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.
Giga Chikadze has gone public with his wish to go toe to toe with one of the most entertaining strikers on the roster, Edson Barboza.
[autotag]Giga Chikadze[/autotag] wants a shot at one of the most entertaining strikers on the UFC roster.
Following his unanimous decision win over Irwin Rivera at UFC on ESPN 8, Chikadze (10-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) wants newly minted featherweight and former lightweight contender [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] next.
Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) shared the same card with Chikadze this past Saturday and was edged out in his 145-pound debut by Dan Ige in what some have labeled a controversial decision loss.
Barboza now has dropped his last three bouts, with two of them narrow split decision losses. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Barboza said he wants the UFC to pay him his win bonus. If they don’t, he said he’s uncertain of his future at 145 pounds.
But despite many media outlets scoring the bout in favor of Barboza, Chikadze thought otherwise, and he let his opinion be known as he called out the Brazilian striker on Twitter.
Edson, no disrespect, but I believe you lost the fight to Dan Ige. You are on 3 fight losing streak and I’m on a 3 fight winning streak , we both strikers and you wouldn’t need to think of my takedowns. Let’s put a show for the fans!@ufc@danawhite@seanshelby
Edson, no disrespect, but I believe you lost the fight to Dan Ige. You are on 3 fight losing streak and I’m on a 3 fight winning streak, we both strikers and you wouldn’t need to think of my takedowns. Let’s put (on) a show for the fans! @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby
Chikadze, a former Glory kickboxer, is off to a perfect 3-0 start to his octagon tenure, having picked up decision victories over Brandon Davis, Jamall Emmers and newcomer Rivera.
UFC on ESPN 8 winners and losers react on social media outlets such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and – perhaps most importantly – social-media platforms.
Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.
Following Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Fla., several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.
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.
Which star shone brightest as the UFC returned to action in Jacksonville? MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Simon Head, and Dave Doyle name their winners.
After a long hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UFC made its return with three events in eight days in Jacksonville, Florida. UFC 249, UFC on ESPN+ 29 and UFC on ESPN 8 each featured a host of eye-catching performances, but which fighter stood out as the star performer over the course of the eight days?
That’s the question we put to MMA Junkie’s Simon Head, Farah Hannoun and Dave Doyle as they sound off in the latest edition of Triple Take.
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Simon Head: Justin Gaethje reaching the pinnacle
Fans loved watching [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] long before he got his hands on UFC gold, but his performance to win the UFC interim lightweight title at UFC 249 showed that he had evolved his game to go that extra yard and push him to within touching distance of a fight with champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Gaethje’s fan-friendly fighting style had already won him a legion of supporters, but it also put him in harm’s way more often than perhaps was sensible, and his back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez – both in the later rounds – showed that there was still some refinement needed if “The Highlight” was to go all the way to the top.
His performance against Tony Ferguson proved that those refinements had been made, as Gaethje produced the best performance of his career to win the interim belt and book himself a future date with “The Eagle.”
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I’ve felt for awhile that Gaethje had the best combination of skills to test Nurmagomedov and potentially even hand the Russian his first defeat, but I wasn’t sure if his gung-ho approach would count against him against the other top contenders. Now he has taken his game to a different level, beaten Ferguson and showed that he’s championship-ready, those doubts are now out of the window.
Gaethje is ready, and his upcoming clash with Khabib could turn out to be one of the fights of 2020.
Next page – Farah Hannoun: Henry Cejudo goes out on a high
Edson Barboza wants the UFC to do right by him after what he believes was an unjust loss to Dan Ige at UFC on ESPN 8.
[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] wants the UFC to right a wrong after what he believes was an unjust loss to Dan Ige at UFC on ESPN 8.
That means paying his win bonus.
Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) made his featherweight debut on Saturday and went the distance with Ige (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC). The Brazilian seemed to inflict greater damage, dropping his opponent in the first round and landing a crushing knee to the body in the second. The third was the closest round of all, and in the end the judges awarded Ige the split decision with alternating 29-28 scores.
Barboza said he was shocked by the result. His team hoped to appeal, but Florida laws don’t allow it. It’s the second time in a row he’s lost a controversial split decision after Paul Felder won their fight at UFC 242 in September. Although Barboza feels he won both, he said the Ige decision was more outrageous.
“I’m hurt a little bit inside,” Barboza told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I really don’t feel it was a very close decision. I think against Felder I still won the fight clearly, but it was a little more close. This one was not close. I won the first and second round clear, the third round I won four minutes and he won only the last minute by taking me down and do nothing. Definitely I won the fight.”
Most agreed the bout, which took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., should have gone in Ige’s favor. Only two of 18 media outlets on MMADecisions.com scored the fight for Ige, with the other 16 going the way of Barboza.
UFC president Dana White said during the postfight press conference that he scored the bout for Barboza. Combining all of those factors together, Barboza said he should be treated like a winner. That means paying him the win portion of this fight purse that would have come with getting his hand raised.
“Dana White said I won the fight,” Barboza said. “I hope the company comes to me and say, ‘You won the fight’ and give me the check. Everybody knows. The UFC knows, Dana White knows, everybody all over the world knows I won the fight. I wait for the UFC to show me some respect for me and my team and my family.
“I work for the UFC for 10 years. I really love UFC. I respect everybody here. I know this is not the UFC’s fault – it’s the commission’s fault. Dana White said and I know I won, and 99.99999 percent of people say I won the fight. I want UFC to give me my bonus. UFC knows, the president knows, 99 percent of the world knows I won that fight. Now is the time the UFC show me some respect.”
Barboza said he came out of UFC on ESPN 8 with minimal injuries, but intends to rest for the next few days to see if the UFC grants his request for payment. He said the organization’s actions will determine what comes next for him.
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After spending 22 fights in the lightweight division, Barboza moved down to 145 pounds for the first time for the matchup with Ige. He said the weight cut was smooth, but it required great discipline. He said he’s not exactly keen to do it again unless his hard work is appreciated.
“I really want to wait the next couple days for the UFC to show me some respect, some love and give me my win money bonus,” Barboza said. “If UFC does nothing, it makes no sense (to stay at featherweight). It was a (expletive) hard time to make weight. Sometimes I do everything right and the company don’t end up showing me some respect or some love. Let’s see what’s going to happen the next couple days. Maybe I fight 145 again. Maybe not. Maybe I go (back to) 155.”
Barboza said his big takeaway from the fight against Ige is that he can push extra hard in the new division. If he did it again, he would force the action even more, but said he was happy with his performance and has no doubts he won. In the end, though, it’s a loss for Barboza and he’s now 1-4 in his past five fights. He has a good case to be 3-2 in that stretch, and he’s hoping UFC will matchmake him as if that’s the case.
“I know I didn’t lose the fight, but at the same time I go to my record and see two Ls,” Barboza said. “It’s not a good feeling inside. I know I won the fight but I see I lost. It’s a crazy feeling. … I hope UFC sends me this week my win bonus, my check and the contract for the next one. I hope UFC gives me a top 10 at the end of the July I’m ready to go. Give me a top 10. I’m ready.”
Angela Hill wants to continue her momentum what should’ve been the biggest win of her career at UFC on ESPN 8.
Angela Hill wants to continue her momentum what should’ve been the biggest win of her career at UFC on ESPN 8.
Hill (12-8 MMA, 6-8 UFC) came out on the wrong end of a somewhat controversial split decision against Claudia Gadelha (18-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in their strawweight co-headliner on Saturday. It could’ve been a fourth straight win for “Overkill,” but instead two of three judges had it the other way.
After a flat start to her UFC career, Hill has turned it up of late. UFC on ESPN 8 marked her fifth fight in the past 15 months, and the win would’ve elevated her status into newfound contender territory. Hill expressed disappointment in the result, but made it clear she intends to push forward, hopefully by booking another fight soon (via Twitter):
I won that fight @danawhite. Book me on the island, Arizona, apex wherever and I’ll carve up more of your girls. Ready to go next week.
I won that fight @danawhite. Book me on the island, Arizona, apex wherever and I’ll carve up more of your girls. Ready to go next week.
Of the 17 media outlets to score Hill vs. Gadelha on MMADecisions.com, 13 had the fight for Hill by a score of 29-28. After a slow start, she turned up the volume with a knockdown in the second before displaying some impactful striking in the third.
Much to Hill’s chagrin, though, the call went the other way.
Hill did not receive a medical suspension stemming from the event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. Because of that, she said she could be ready to go as soon as the UFC’s next planned event on May 30 (via Instagram):
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!
On Episode No. 3,052 of the podcast, the fellas recap UFC on ESPN 8, as well as the latest news and notes in MMA.
THE RUNDOWN
In the UFC on ESPN 8 main event, [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] rallied to score a second-round TKO win over [autotag]Walt Harris[/autotag]. Now, it was Harris who swarmed Overeem early, but referee Dan Miragliotta elected not to stop the fight, which allowed Overeem’s comeback. Should it have been stopped in the first?
There were judging controversies throughout UFC on ESPN 8, with [autotag]Claudia Gadelha[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] and [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] all coming away with questionable decision wins. We break down each result.
Former UFC champion [autotag]Kevin Randleman[/autotag] will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. We explain why it’s such an appropriate honor.
[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is chirping, talking about moving up to fight Francis Ngannou and how he wants more money. Could he hold the UFC hostage?
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] is giving [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] a taste of his own medicine. What do we think of that?
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
See who Alistair Overeem should fight next after his main event victory over Walt Harris at UFC on ESPN 8.
[autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] was forced to overcome adversity inside the octagon Saturday before leaving the UFC on ESPN 8 main event against Walt Harris as a winner.
It looked as though Overeem (46-18 MMA, 11-7 UFC) would be finished by Harris (13-8 MMA, 6-7 UFC) in the heavyweight headliner at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla., but instead he turned the tables and rallied to score the second-round TKO, giving him three wins in his past four fights.
Overeem turned 40 just minutes after getting his hand raised, but he still very much looks to be a top-tier heavyweight. UFC gold has been the only thing that’s evaded him throughout his illustrious career, and after coming up short in his first opportunity against Stipe Miocic at UFC 203 in September 2016, he’s determined to get back there one final time.
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Given the top-heavy nature of the division, Overeem is not far off. But what’s the appropriate step to take him toward the strap? A fellow former title challenger in [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC) could be the solution.
Is that what makes most sense? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Overeem’s future coming out of UFC on ESPN 8.
See who Walt Harris should fight next after his main event loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC on ESPN 8.
[autotag]Walt Harris[/autotag] came up short in his return to the octagon Saturday when he lost to Alistair Overeem in the UFC on ESPN 8 main event.
In his first fight since the tragic killing of his stepdaughter, Aniah Blanchard, Harris (13-8 MMA, 6-7 UFC) succumbed to a second-round TKO against Overeem (45-19 MMA, 10-8 UFC) in the headlining bout, which took place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.
Although the fight didn’t go his way, Harris’ stock still rose. Not only did he show his fortitude by returning to the cage, but he nearly finished Overeem in the opening round before the momentum turned, and he was stopped in the second.
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Harris vowed to come back stronger and will likely get a notable opponent next in the heavyweight division next.
Where does Harris go after the loss? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future.
Alex Davis, manager to Edson Barboza, was ready to appeal the loss to Dan Ige until he had a conversation with the Florida commission.
[autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag]’s team won’t appeal his UFC on ESPN 8 defeat to Dan Ige, simply because they can’t.
After Barboza (20-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) lost a debatable split decision loss to Ige (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in his featherweight debut Saturday, there was a level of outrage over the result. Barboza’s manager, Alex Davis, was chief among them, taking to social media and declaring an appeal would be filed over what he believes were blatantly inaccurate scores.
Unfortunately, that’s not an option. Davis told MMA Junkie on Sunday that he had a productive conversation with Florida State Boxing Commission head Patrick Cunningham after the bout, but was informed the state only reviews decisions under two specific circumstances.
“We wanted to come in front of them and analyze the fight and show them the decision was wrong,” Davis told MMA Junkie. “They can’t allow it because for that to happen, I would have to accuse the judges of fraud, or Ige of having taken (performance-enhancing drugs). I have no suspicion of fraud, and I don’t think he takes PEDs. I think he’s a great fighter, and he fought really well. I can’t appeal because of that.
“The whole world saw Edson winning that fight. Nothing against Ige, he fought a great fight, and he’s a tough guy and all props to him. But the problem is, from our perspective, the scoring was wrong. We should be able to take a fight before the commission and appeal, and if they think the scoring is wrong they should be able to overturn. That doesn’t happen here. The law doesn’t permit it to.”
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Although Davis disagrees with not being allowed to present an argument on behalf of his client, he said he respects the laws in place.
It’s a rather discouraging situation, though. It’s not like this is the first time Barboza has experienced it. His previous fight also saw him come out on the wrong end of a split decision last September against Paul Felder at UFC 242. Had those two gone Barboza’s way, Davis said he would be on a career upswing.
Instead, Barboza’s record paints what Davis believes is a false picture.
“These decisions have been plaguing him,” Davis said. “We had three obviously bad decisions yesterday, and we get them all over the place. The effect on his career is devastating because now he goes 1-4 in his last five fights with two fights that were controversial decisions. When people look at his record, all they see is the loss and nothing explaining how it happened or how good the fight was.”
Davis has been one of the loudest proponents of change to judging and fight scoring among top MMA managers. He believes the 10-point must system is not equipped for MMA and also said officials are not held accountable for the scores they present.
A radical adjustment is needed, Davis said, and he believes it can only happen if there’s collective action taken among power players in the fight game to get everyone on the same page.
“There’s no connect between the judges and the fighters or trainers,” Davis said. “We don’t know what they’re looking for, or we could adjust their vision to what we do or we adjust what we do to what they’re looking for. There’s a disconnect, and it’s hurting the sport.”
