Month: December 2021

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‘F**k!’ MMA juggernaut Harrison in disbelief as ‘mega-million-dollar’ Nunes fight collapses in front of her eyes (VIDEO)

UFC president Dana White has said that Amanda Nunes’ shocking loss to Julianna Pena has cost her a “mega-million-dollar” bout against Kayla Harrison.

In what many have dubbed one of the greatest upsets of all time in the elite promotion, the ‘Venezuelan Vixen’ handed the two-weight champion her first defeat in seven years via a second-round rear-naked choke after the pair had traded stand-up blows.

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

Pena submitted Nunes in a massive upset. © Getty Images



Watching in the stands at UFC 269 in Las Vegas was PFL lightweight queen Harrison, who is being lined up for a switch to the UFC and a potential lucrative superfight against ‘The Lioness’.

But while Nunes has only been relieved of her bantamweight strap and still has the featherweight one in tow that Harrison was tipped to challenge her for, White has thrown that possibility out of the window. 

“These are those things, man, for Kayla Harrison, the Amanda Nunes fight was huge,” he said at his post-event press conference.

“If they would have faced off it would have been a massive, mega-million-dollar fight…

“If Amanda Nunes had won tonight, the Kayla Harrison fight would be one of the biggest fights you would have ever seen,” added White, suggesting that the contest was now more off the cards than on. 

As some unlucky punter reportedly lost a whopping $318,000 backing Nunes, Harrison also knew what was at stake by letting out a long “f*ck!” at the T-Mobile Arena in the mad seconds that followed Pena’s victory.

Harrison is still in talks to join the UFC in 2022, but also negotiating with her are the PFL, who wish to keep their biggest female draw, as well as Bellator, where she could take on Cris Cyborg. 

Even if it has had the shine taken off it though, the Harrison-Nunes showdown isn’t completely dead in the water.

But while that might have been the first order of business next spring or summer, a rematch with Pena has to be next up, White suggested.

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UFC champ Oliveira accused of cheating with glove move in Poirier win (VIDEO)

Charles Oliveira underscored his authority in the UFC lightweight division with a third-round submission win against Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas, but some eagle-eyed viewers claim his win is marred by an act of cheating.

Louisiana native Poirier’s second crack at the undisputed world title went much the same way as his first, ending as he tapped in submission to a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

READ MORE: Khabib reacts as Oliveira defeats Poirier to retain UFC lightweight crown in thriller

But if that first loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov was entirely without controversy, the same cannot be said for Saturday night’s contest with Brazilian submission machine Oliveira. 

After a first round in which he was the more dominant of the two, Poirier found himself entangled in Oliveira’s web early into the second as the champion attempted to maneuver various ways to attack his opponent’s right arm, emptying his box of tricks in the process.

But as Poirier attempted to slip away, footage suggests that Oliveira grabbed his glove – something which is outlawed in the rules of mixed martial arts – forcing Poirier to roll away rather than pull out of the move, and inviting the champion into a dominant position where he spent much of the remainder of the round pounding away with vicious elbows from the top. 

“He’s holding on to the glove in an illegal way,” commentator Joe Rogan declared on the broadcast. “See the way he’s holding the glove like that? He cupped his fingers underneath the glove to achieve that position.

“There was something to that position that made Dustin roll,” Daniel Cormier agreed. “I don’t know why he would have rolled instead of just keep pulling the arm back.“

“We’d have to look at it real closely but in my eyes that was what was happening,” added Rogan.

And with Poirier visibly affected by the ensuing shots ahead of being submitted a minute into the next round, some fight fans are crying foul.

“Easy round for Oliveira. Not sure what to say about the glove grab, but if that’s happened, that’s pretty bad to do,” wrote MMA insider Luke Thomas on Twitter.

“My problem is, rewatching Charles past fights he’s does a lot of dirty stuff like this,” said a second, while another commented on how the alleged incident was pivotal in leading to the eventual finish of the fight.

“It happened and it changed the fight completely,” they wrote. “Dustin pulls his arm out if Charles isn’t grabbing the glove. Instead he took him down and wore him out for 3 1/2 minutes.”

But while social media worked itself into a tizzy, Poirier himself wasn’t quite so convinced.

“[Coach] Mike Brown was asking before we got back to the locker room why I didn’t just slide my arm out,” Poirier explained in the post-fight press conference.

“I don’t remember the finger in the gloves but I was trying to pull my arm out and it felt like it was in there good but Mike did ask me in the locker room after why didn’t I just pull my arm out. I tried.

“I don’t know if his fingers were in my glove or not. I didn’t feel it.”

And with Poirier refusing to cast any blame towards his opponent, he was joined by several others online who said that Oliveira stayed within the rules throughout his first defense of his 155lbs crown.

“The ‘glove grab’ narrative is all Joe Rogan’s fault,” another fight fan chimed in. “Charles Oliveira grabs it for less than 2 seconds, immediately switches to wrist control (maintains ankle control), Dustin still wasn’t able to escape. And then rolls to get Poirier on his back.“

“Glove hold happened for at most three seconds, most of it was just holding the wrist and rapping the arm. Once the glove was grabbed Poirier was already rolling to get a better position which lead him on the ground either way,” wrote another.

“Doesn’t look like his fingers and in the glove he’s grabbing his wrist I think Poirier wasn’t complaining about it after the fight anyway,” said a third.

Either way, and despite the support from several sections of the fight community online, it will be scant consolation for Poirier who will wake up on Sunday morning with the grim realization that he has fallen at the final hurdle of the sport one more time.

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On or off? Mini viral sensation reacts to claims UFC made $1.5mn offer (VIDEO)

Russian viral sensation Hasbulla Magomedov has ruled out a showdown with fellow social media star Abdu Rozik, dismissing claims that a deal of $1.5 million was in the works for a fight between the pair.

Hasbulla has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the year after a fight was teased between the Dagestani blogger and Tajik singer Abdu Rozik.

The pair – who suffer rare growth disorders – were supposedly set to clash back in May in a contest overseen by Russian Instagram influencer Asxab Tamaev.

READ MORE: Russian Dwarf Athletic Association criticizes viral sensations over ‘unethical’ MMA fight (VIDEO)

The bout never happened but Hasbulla’s fame continued to rise, particularly among the combat sports community.

That led to him being a guest of honor alongside Dana White at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi in October, where the pint-sized pugilist again clashed with Tajik nemesis Abdu Rozik.

Renewed claims followed that a deal was in works for a fight, with Tamaev outlandishly claiming the UFC was ready to offer $1.5 million for the rights.  

But on Friday at an Eagle FC MMA event in Moscow where he appeared alongside promotion owner Khabib Nurmagomedov, Hasbulla shut down that speculation.

“[Dana White] didn’t say anything about the UFC and fights,” Hasbulla told media including Red Corner MMA.

“Some people want to organize it but they won’t be able to, because it will be expensive and not too many people will be able to (pay for it). Plus I don’t want it at the moment.”

Hasbulla added that Tamaev – with whom he has reportedly fallen out – was in no position to negotiate anything on his behalf.

“We didn’t discuss it and Dana White didn’t offer it. How could [Tamaev] do that? Is he my father or something? He signed a contract with me to sell the fight?” said Hasbulla. 

“If for example I have something, I can give it to him and he can sell it. But how can he sell my fight if it doesn’t even exist?

“[Tamaev] posted some photoshopped screenshots of his DMs with Dana White. I told him to show me his screen recording with this and he couldn’t.”

In any event, Hasbulla suggested there would only be one winner if he did come face-to-face with Abdu Rozik in combat.

“Abdu Rozik is a bum, he’s a singer,” said the Dagestani star dismissively.

“This fight doesn’t even make sense. Fighting a singer would be a shame for me. I don’t have any opponent at the moment.”

“The UFC invited me to watch fights as a guest, and I love watching fights. That’s all,” added Hasbulla, who is said to be 19 years old, of his trip to Abu Dhabi. 

On Friday night in Moscow, Khabib was seen gently sitting with Hasbulla on his knee as the pair watched EFC 43, prompting fans online to note the pair’s friendship.    

Likewise after his victory at UFC 267, lightweight star Islam Makhachev had raised Hasbulla aloft inside the Octagon in celebration. 

“They’re my brothers, that’s why you see us together,” longtime fight fan Hasbulla said in Moscow when asked about his friendship with his fellow Dagestani stars.

“I’ve known Islam Makhachev for a long time. We weren’t close friends, but we’ve known each other for about 10 years.”

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‘That’s so dirty’: Female fighter shamed for disgusting move (VIDEO)

Priscila Cachoeira didn’t do much to ingratiate herself to UFC fans this week after first missing weight for her fight with Gillian Robertson, and then attempting an eye gouge after becoming stuck in a fight-ending submission.

It was a week to forget for Cachoeira, and one which might well cost the Brazilian flyweight her spot on the UFC roster.

First, she came in heavy when she stepped on the scales on the eve of her fight with Canada’s Robertson weighing a full 3lbs heavier than her contracted weight limit.

As if the spotlight wasn’t already on her, Cachoeira proceeded to attempt to escape what proved to be the pivotal submission move towards the end of the first round by repeatedly gouging Robertson’s eye – all while the referee intently scrutinized the sequence from just feet away.

In the end, Cachoeira’s attempt to avoid a loss proved fruitless as she tapped into submission with just a single second remaining in the opening frame.

“Look at this, she definitely looked like she was trying to stick her finger in her eye,” Joe Rogan said on the broadcast while analyzing the finish of the fight.

“100%, that’s so dirty.“

“Oh my goodness, she did it again,” added Daniel Cormier. 

“That’s so dirty,” Rogan again exclaimed.

“Cheating, missing weight… scratching the eye. That is so nasty.“

“I mean that was straight up thumb into the eye. Robertson still strangled her. That’s probably it for Cachoeira,” said one fan, predicting that the Brazilian might soon be handed her pink slip by the UFC.

“Buzzer beater [rear-naked choke] from Gillian Robertson to start the card off… Cachoeira was deadass tryna eye gouge Gillian to get out of it, doesn’t work, taps anyways… That was wild,” said another.

A third wrote: “Honestly shocked we don’t see more desperate eye gouges from fighters stuck in the RNC. Top tier cheating by Cachoeira, there.“

The sequence also incited a curious debate: what is a referee to do if they observe a clear and obvious foul in a potential fight-ending sequence such as this? An eye gouge can obviously lead to serious and even permanent damage to a fighter – but an official could risk the wrath of a fighter and their team if they were to pause the action to discipline a fighter in such a scenario. 

“What’s the actual correct play from the referee’s perspective? It’s an obvious foul but he can’t stop a checkmate sequence like that. Feels like a bit of a blind spot in the ruleset, no pun intended,” asked one.

“Personally think that he waits until either the sub or escape and if there’s an escape he stops and takes points away,” said another.

A third noted that the jiu jitsu community has a plans in place for such an event: “In jiu jitsu intentional eye gouging by an opponent is DQ especially if it stops you from continuing the submission.”

Either way, no harm was done on this occasion (at least hopefully) and Cachoeira will certainly face stern questions as to her future with the organization for such a clear and obvious violation of the rules. 

And just to cap a truly horrendous evening for her, she was also docked 30% of her purse for failing to make the 125lbs weight limit.

Better luck next time Pricila, if indeed there is a next time.

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‘Classy’ or ‘disrespectful’? Ukraine legend Lomachenko splits opinion with ring gestures (VIDEO)

Lightweight boxing legend Vasiliy Lomachenko was caught sending his opponent back to his corner and imploring his rival’s team to throw in the towel on more than one occasion during his latest win.

In his first fight since the summer, the Ukrainian earned a unanimous decision win over former IBF champion Richard Commey at Madison Square Garden.  

With scores of 117-110, 119-108 and 119-108 on the judge’s cards, it was a masterclass performance that put Loma in line to get back the division’s championship straps from George Kambosos Jr., who defeated the 33-year-old’s previous victor in Teofimo Lopez late last month.

But as communicated by the wide points margins, the bout perhaps could have been stopped earlier for the Ghanaian’s own good. 

Connecting with a 1-2 that rocked Commey’s head back, Lomachenko then showed his dazed foe where his corner was. 

On Twitter, the gesture was called “one of the most disrespectful things” on fan had seen in boxing. 

Later, in the seventh, there was more in store when Loma dropped Commey with a brutal left.

He gestured towards the corner again, but was this time appearing to ask Commey’s team if they wanted to throw the towel in.

They didn’t, and as the assault continued, Loma gave them the option one last time when Commey was on the ropes and Loma relented from delivering more crushing blows.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist was accused of being “arrogant” and “patronizing” for this, with one fan saying: “It’s cool to be a good fighter but that’s not cool.

“Be a professional,” he demanded.

However, others found it “genuinely classy” and said they had “massive respect” for the act, which is something that pundit Max Kellerman might agree with.

“Lomachenko didn’t have the stomach to finish a defenseless fighter, so he twice asked Commey’s corner to do the right thing, and stop the fight so he wouldn’t have to,” said Kellerman.

“They didn’t, and once Commey’s head cleared Lomachenko couldn’t. No good deed goes unpunished.”

Post-fight, the brawler himself explained the motives behind his behavior.

“I saw his situation,” he said. “It was very hard for him. That’s why I said: ‘Hey, stop the fight.’ He is a true warrior.

“He has a big heart and we continue and we show for people 12 great rounds.”

As a tearful Commey said he had let his country down, Lomachenko, who claimed the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title, made no secret of feeling he is more deserving of a shot at Kambosos than the likes of Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.

“I will go anywhere I need to go to fight him,” he said, which could mean venturing to the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and The Ring king’s native Australia. 

“I need this chance.”