Day: December 17, 2021

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Is Julianna Pena’s destruction of Amanda Nunes really the biggest upset in MMA history? (VIDEO)

If Julianna Pena’s seismic upset win against Amanda Nunes taught us anything it is that in MMA, the bigger they come, the harder they fall – and this has been a lesson learned the hard way by several fighters down the years.

There’s a well-worn saying in mixed martial arts: if you don’t have a loss on your record, then you’re night fighting the right level of competition.

While supporters of Khabib Nurmagomedov might have their issues with statements such as this, it has remained an almost inescapable truth for practically every other fighter to have stepped into a cage over the years.

Nunes, the UFC’s first-ever female double champ, experienced this for herself against Pena last weekend at UFC 269 as she shockingly surrendered her bantamweight crown to her underdog opponent in Las Vegas.

READ MORE: ‘I told you motherf**kers!’ Pena submits Nunes for ‘biggest upset in UFC history’ (VIDEO)

The upset is being considered by many as the biggest seen in the Octagon in some time, and possibly ever – but it is far from the only seismic shock to hit MMA, with several others rocking the sport throughout its short history.

MATT SERRA VS. GEORGES ST-PIERRE – UFC 69, APRIL 2007

It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.

St-Pierre, six months or so removed from what seemed to be the realization of his destiny when he dethroned dominant UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, was handed what many saw as a ‘gimme’ fight against Serra, a journeyman fighter and former lightweight who had earned the opportunity by outlasting several other veterans on a season of the UFC’s reality show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.

Instead, we got what is still hailed among the most shocking finishes to a fight in UFC history.

Serra, a prohibitive underdog against the outstanding St-Pierre, refused to bow to the oddsmakers and immediately launched into a furious assault against the 170lbs champion.

GSP was floored on more than one occasion as Serra swarmed, with St-Pierre eventually tapping out due to strikes as the aggressive New Yorker unloaded an endless barrage of punishment on the grounded French-Canadian.

The result of the fight, and the manner in which it was achieved, is said to have compelled St-Pierre to forevermore adopt a more conservative strategy in his fights, but not before gained his revenge – and the world title – from Serra in their rematch a year later.

He would never lose another fight in his professional career before retiring a decade later.

HOLLY HOLM VS. RONDA ROUSEY – UFC 193, NOVEMBER 2015

MMA neophytes might not grasp exactly how big a star Ronda Rousey was throughout her four-year unbeaten run through Strikeforce and the UFC.

The former Olympic judoka finished each of her career wins, all but one of those coming inside the first round – and nine of them coming by armbar. 

Her rapid ascent to the summit of the sport brought with it a selection of hot takes: her boxing is as good as anyone in the sport (it wasn’t), she could quite likely beat the male 135lbs champion (she almost certainly couldn’t), and she would never feel the sting of defeat as long as she remained an active fighter.

That last statement met a grisly end in Melbourne, Australia, in late 2015 when she faced fellow undefeated fighter and professional boxer Holly Holm – someone who the opening exchanges showed was vastly more comfortable on the feet.

The end, when it came as the result of a shuddering left high kick to the dome, was almost merciful, as if putting Rousey out of her misery and forever dispelling the narrative that female fighting had never seen as dominant a champion.

Rousey would also lose her next fight to Amanda Nunes before emerging in the pantomime world of WWE sometime later.

FABRICIO WERDUM VS. FEDOR EMELIANENKO – STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. WERDUM, JUNE 2010

The evening of June 6, 2010, was thought by most to be just another chapter in the great Fedor Emelianenko’s legacy.

The dominant Russian heavyweight had, for almost a decade, defeated all comers and was unbeaten in 33 fights, save for a technical defeat due to a cut in a one-night tournament in late 2000. 

Submission specialist Werdum was a test, many thought, but one that the great Fedor was certainly favored to pass. After all, the Brazilian submission ace had washed out of the UFC a couple of years prior after a mostly underwhelming 18 months with the organization.

But just 69 seconds into the contest, Fedor tapped out after being baited by Werdum into a tight triangle choke in what was the first true defeat of The Last Emperor’s glittering career… and it opened the door to two more immediate losses against Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson.

Emelianenko, now 45, has lost just two more times since that trio of defeats while winning nine times, including an October knockout of American Tim Johnson in Moscow. 

NATE DIAZ VS. CONOR MCGREGOR – UFC 196, MARCH 2016

Nate Diaz declared that he wasn’t “surprised” after he handed Conor McGregor his shocking first UFC defeat just months after the Irishman had vanquished featherweight boogeyman Jose Aldo to claim his first of what would eventually become two world titles – but the rest of us sure were.

McGregor moved up to the 170lbs division to take on Diaz on short notice after lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos withdrew from their scheduled bout due to injury, and was expected to breeze past the tough but beatable veteran.

Instead, McGregor tired himself out by emptying his glitzy box of striking tricks and found himself eventually enveloped in Diaz’s quicksand, a second-round rear-naked choke. 

McGregor would go on to claim redemption the following August when he outpointed Diaz in what was a thrilling contest – but it was the Stockton fighter who first exposed the chinks in the Irishman’s armor all those years ago.

RANDY COUTURE VS. TIM SYLVIA – UFC 68, MARCH 2007

“Not bad for an old man” – Randy Couture

The UFC got its very own iteration of George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer in March 2007 when the 43-year-old former light heavyweight champion Couture emerged from retirement to put a five-round beating on then heavyweight kingpin Tim Sylvia, a fighter who was 23-2 at the time and stood some seven inches taller than Couture.

Couture’s comeback was bemoaned by many as sending a beloved former fighter to the slaughter. He had lost two of his prior three fights by crushing knockout to Chuck Liddell, so how was he going to be equipped in handling the power of a fighter who was both younger and bigger than him?

Quite well, as it turned out. Couture floored Sylvia with his opening salvo, an overhand right, and didn’t step off the gas for the remaining 24-and-a-half minutes of the fight to claim the UFC’s world heavyweight title.

Couture would go on to compete seven more times in the UFC before finally retiring at the age of 48 in 2011, but not before he well and truly made us reconsider the shelf life of a top fighter.

Not bad indeed.

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Khabib says Hasbulla ‘can become billionaire’

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov says he might not be Dagestan’s most famous export for long after revealing that diminutive blogger Hasbulla Magomedov has a lengthy list of suitors seeking his signature.

Magomedov, known to many simply as Hasbulla or Hasbik, has captured the attention of a generation of fight fans after debuting online in a now infamous clip with pint-sized foe Abdu Rozik – but if you thought that his 15 minutes of fame were due to expire soon, think again.

READ MORE: Viral sensation Hasbulla reacts to claims UFC made $1.5mn offer (VIDEO)

Hasbulla – who is 19 years of age – has graduated from social media curiosity to a fully fledged phenomenon in recent months.

He attended October’s UFC 267 event in Abu Dhabi by invitation of Dana White himself, and was even proudly hoisted into the air by fellow Dagestani icon Islam Makhachev following the latter’s impressive first-round finish of Kiwi brawler Dan Hooker.

Hasbulla was part of the team at UFC 267. © Twitter



He boasts a keen friendship with Khabib, but although the internet has been awash with recent speculation that Hasbulla might follow in The Eagle’s footsteps by settling his feud with Abdu Rozik inside the UFC Octagon – rumors which have been positively stoked by Dana White – Khabib revealed he is against his pal throwing leather inside of a cage.

“Honestly, I don’t want to make this fight (with Abdu Rozik). I don’t support this idea. I don’t think this is a good idea,” Khabib told Red Corner MMA.

“They’re both big names, they can create some good things if they become friends. If I had a choice, I’m going to make them friends.

“Maybe do some good charity things [together], they can become ambassadors for charity funds… but I don’t want to see this fight. We have enough fighting around the world. Peace is better than war.”

Khabib did testify to Hasbulla’s phenomenal popularity, telling Red Corner MMA that the social media star should move Stateside to make millions – if not more.  

“He has to go the US, all the big sports stars know him there, he’s very popular,” said Khabib of his pal.

“He has to move for a couple of years to the US and become maybe a billionaire. Minimum he can become a millionaire.” 

And according to Khabib at a separate Moscow press on Wednesday, there has even been concrete interest from an entirely different type of arena: the WWE.

“The WWE, wrestling, also wants him to come to them somehow,” said the former UFC champion, according to Championat. 

“They want to pay him some big money to get him into the ring. He’s immensely popular abroad.”

So be it in a WWE ring, or maybe even the silver screen, it certainly doesn’t seem like we have seen the last of Hasbulla – and if Hollywood gets their way, we might be seeing a whole lot more before all is said and done.

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Revealed: New radio message shows furious F1 title accusations from Hamilton (VIDEO)

Lewis Hamilton fumed that the race had been “manipulated” as he lost the F1 world title to Max Verstappen in astonishing circumstances in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a newly-released radio message has shown.

Mercedes star Hamilton missed out on a record eighth world championship as Red Bull rival Max Verstappen overtook him on the last lap of a remarkable race at the Yas Marina circuit.   

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Max Verstappen won a remarkable world title in Abu Dhabi. © Reuters
F1 chaos: What exactly happened during the crazy closing laps in Abu Dhabi?

Hamilton had appeared on course for victory before the deployment of the safety car with five laps to go, which allowed Verstappen to get back within range.

Red Bull used the opportunity to bring the Dutchman in for a fresh set of tires while Hamilton remained out so that he would not lose track position.

There was then confusion – followed by fury from Mercedes – as race officials said that lapped cars which had been between Hamilton and Verstappen could ‘unlap’ themselves, meaning the Dutchman had a free run at his rival.

A new clip of radio exchange between Hamilton and his team has now emerged showing the Brit’s frustrations as the race reached a climax.

“This has been manipulated, man,” an angry Hamilton is heard saying on the last lap. 

Verstappen took the title in Abu Dhabi. © Reuters



Mercedes filed two protests with FIA bosses following the race, one of which accused officials of not following proper protocols during the deployment of the safety car.

However, both were dismissed as Verstappen, 24, was confirmed champion – making him the first man from the Netherlands ever to win the F1 title.

Mercedes later announced they intended to lodge an appeal in an effort to get the race result overturned and have Hamilton declared the winner.

READ MORE: F1 officials reject Mercedes title protest   

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Khabib drops surprising name as he teases ‘big plans’ for his MMA promotion in US

Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed that ‘big plans’ will be announced at an upcoming press conference in Miami, as the Russian star continues to build his Eagle FC promotion.

Khabib’s time as an active fighter may have come and gone but the impressive recent growth of his Eagle FC fight promotion means that the undefeated Russia icon won’t be far from a cage. 

Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Nurmagomedov hinted at some of the future plans his fight league has the works, much of which he says will be revealed at a press conference in Miami on December 15 ahead of Eagle FC 44, which will be the promotion’s first event to take place in the United States.

It was revealed in recent days that former UFC champion Rashad Evans will compete on the card, while recent UFC refugee Kevin Lee is also strongly linked to fight – but as Khabib explained, the ambition and perhaps financial clout of Eagle FC is such that if even someone of the stature of Brock Lesnar was available, Khabib would be interested in striking a deal. 

“It’s going to be a big press conference in Miami, we’re going to show all our card, 28 January, in Miami, we’re going to announce some big signings, it’s going to be a lot of news,” Khabib told Red Corner MMA.

“They tell me, ‘don’t give inside news;… but we’re very close on [signing] Kevin Lee. At the press conference we’re going to have news.”

MMA promotions are a dime-a-dozen in the United States but Khabib says that he wants his league to be as far from a facsimile as possible, and even hinted that some of the weight classes might be different to those generally accepted in the current system in the United States.

“This is not about how big we make it,” explained Khabib.

“We want to make it a little bit different to other leagues. We’re going to make some weights maybe different, some system we want to change.

“Not everything… just use some other systems from other sports. In my league, we’re going to change some systems. We’re going to become very big around the world. The US, here in former USSR countries, in Russia of course, the Middle East.“

Some things, though, must be kept close to his chest, and to find out fans will have to tune into this week’s presser in the Sunshine State – but suffice to say, there are high level discussions taking place behind the scenes.

“I can’t talk about everything because I have press conference, I’m going to come out with some big news on December 15. We can even sign Brock Lesnar if we want and he wants. We have a good position, we have big plans. Brock Lesnar, if he wants, OK, let’s go,” he teased.

“Of course we know how big the UFC is, I don’t want to say some crazy things… but for leagues that are just beginning, we’re going to become promotion of the year.”

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Sexually abused US gymnasts to be paid $380 million

Over 500 female gymnasts who sued over the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar will receive a $380 million settlement from USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and their insurers.

The settlement was announced on Monday by the federal bankruptcy court in the Southern District of Indiana. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018, following a deluge of lawsuits over years of Nassar’s abuse.

“This chapter is finally closed,” tweeted Rachael Denhollander, whose 2016 complaint brought Nassar’s abuses to light. “Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether or not justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next.”

This was a reference to the “restorative justice” program, which USA Gymnastics agreed to set up in addition to the payments, in order to give Nassar’s victims a say in how it deals with future allegations of sexual abuse.

Attorney Mick Grewal, who represented dozens of plaintiffs in the case, described the program as “the gold standard for every institution that has a sexual assault problem.”

Read more

Simone Biles (left) testified to the Senate © Saul Loeb / Reuters
Olympic queen Biles urges US Congress to axe Olympic board after accusing FBI of ‘turning a blind eye’ to sexual abuse allegations

One of the largest-ever settlements in a sexual abuse case, the fund will go towards compensating victims like Olympic medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, as well as others who were abused by the gymnastics team’s former head doctor. Denhollander said many of the victims have battled depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and even suicidal tendencies in the aftermath of their abuse.

“No amount of money will ever repair the damage that has been done and what these women have been through,” she said. “But at some point, the negotiations have to end because these women need help – and they need it right now.”

While most of the settlement will be paid by insurance companies, the US Olympic and Paralympic committee will pay $34 million and give another $6 million to USA Gymnastics as a loan. Previously, the USOPC argued it could not be held liable to Nassar’s abuses, since he wasn’t their employee. The settlement will now help USOPC avoid being decertified as an Olympic organization. 

Although the FBI initially ignored complaints about Nassar, he was eventually arrested and tried for abuse of gymnasts under his care. A federal court sentenced him in 2017 to 60 years in prison on charges of possession of child sex abuse materials. The following year, he was sentenced to a combined maximum of 300 years by Michigan courts for abusing female gymnasts he treated over the years. Michigan State University, where Nassar taught and practiced between 1997 and 2016 and where much of the abuse took place, settled with survivors for $500 million in 2018.