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‘Cold Blooded’ is feeling confident ahead of her upcoming fight against a one-time title challenger. 

Erin Blanchfield is preparing for the toughest test of her professional career thus far and, from the sound of things, she is up for the challenge.

During an interview on Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, ‘Cold Blooded’ revealed that she had signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC. For the first bout on that new contract, she will share the Octagon with Taila Santos—the one-time title challenger coming off a razor-thin fight with champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Though she initially called for opponents closer to her in the official rankings, Blanchfield gladly accepted a potential No. 1 contender with Santos.

“When they offered it to me—I love to have notice, I like to have a full camp so I can be prepared for anybody. But, as long as I have that, I know I can beat anybody in the world,” said Blanchfield. “So, yeah, I’m definitely hyped for it.”

Despite suffering a split decision loss to the champion, Santos was the one challenger who gave Shevchenko a run for her money for the first time in her reign. The Brazilian found success on the ground, controlling and threatening Shevchenko with submissions throughout the first three rounds.

As impressive as her performance was, Blanchfield still feels confident she gets her hand raised against Santos.

“She’s a little bit taller than me, I’m like 5’4, she’s 5’6,” said Blanchfield. “She’s a striker, but she has some good wrestling, she likes her takedowns off the cage, her jiu-jitsu is decent. I mean she’s well-rounded, but I don’t think she’s necessarily dangerous.”

Blanchfield improved to 4-0 in the UFC with a first-round submission of Molly McCann at UFC 281 this past November.

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UFC legend Nate Diaz could be headed to BKFC.

BKFC president David Feldman is still “aggressively” pursuing Nate Diaz, stating that he is going to make the UFC veteran an offer he can’t refuse.

Diaz is currently a free agent, having completed his contract with the UFC earlier this year. This has opened the door for organizations like BKFC to make their pitch and try to bring Diaz into their fold.

Feldman has not revealed exactly how much money he has offered Diaz, but hinted that it may be a deal the Californian won’t be able to say no to.

In an interview with BJPENN.com, Feldman said: “We definitely reached out. They do have a window where they can’t negotiate or talk about deals because it is a re-negotiation period with the UFC and we respected that. We did reach out not knowing when that was. We have another week or so before we can make an offer. I think the offer we will make him is gonna be hard for him to say no, unless he just doesn’t want to do this. That is a possibility. Look, the guy is a legend, he’s a warrior, he’s been in with every one and this might not be his cup of tea. But, if it is, I’m pretty sure we can sway him over here.”

Feldman also mentioned the potential for a bare-knuckle slugfest between Diaz and Mike Perry, saying “Absolutely, I think him and Mike Perry would move the needle for us tremendously. There are a lot of other guys that are out there that we are going after that would be great for us.”

It remains to be seen if Diaz will take BKFC up on their offer, but it’s clear that the bare-knuckle organization is making a big push to sign him. Diaz is also pursuing potential avenues in boxing, teasing a mega-fight with YouTube star Jake Paul as well as launching his own promotion, Real Ninjas Inc., next year.

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UFC’s pay-per-view price has increased four times in the ESPN era.

It’s going to be even more expensive to be a UFC fan now.

According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, the UFC’s pay-per-view price will be increased yet again, going from $ 74.99 to $ 79.99. After already seeing an increase in 2022, this latest price hike will start on January 2023, with UFC 283.

Disney, according to the report, says the increase reflects “the value of ESPN+ and the popularity and quality of UFC events.”

This would mark the fourth PPV price increase since the UFC struck a lucrative deal with ESPN, with the pay-per-view price going from $ 59.99 in 2019 to $ 79.99 in 2023. That still doesn’t include the monthly ESPN+ subscription on top of that, which started from $ 4.99 in 2019, and has pretty much doubled to $ 9.99 since.

During the start of the ESPN deal in 2019, if an MMA fan bought all 13 PPVs and paid for the monthly subscription, it would cost them $ 839.75 for the year. In 2023, that total would now be at $ 1159.75 — if they don’t increase the ESPN+ subscription price for the entire year.

As Disney mentioned, the UFC has been a very popular and highly lucrative property. Figures have previously revealed that the UFC now makes over $ 1 billion a year, and is expected to keep growing.

Dana White previously tried to wash his hands of the constant PPV price increases, saying UFC isn’t to blame as that call is made by ESPN/Disney executives. As we discussed during their last increase though, it isn’t quite that simple.

The way the UFC’s deal is structured has ESPN paying them more each year, with reported annual increases of roughly around 5%. This contracted revenue also plays a part on why the UFC keeps breaking their financial records each year since the ESPN deal started.

According to Morgan Stanley, UFC’s US domestic media rights are projected to rise from around $ 295 million in 2021 to $ 308 million in 2022. ESPN in turn will naturally find a way to try and recoup these increasing payments.

Technically, it’s indeed not the UFC’s call, but with the way the ESPN deal was set up, the PPV (and ESPN+) price hike has not only been expected, it seems almost inevitable.

That guaranteed figure of over $ 300 million that UFC gets for 2022 is expected to be even bigger in 2023.

The promotion still broke their financial records in 2022, even with their normal top draws such as Conor McGregor or Jon Jones being inactive for the year. Majority of that revenue is from contractual deals and set fees they get from ESPN, along with sponsors and other media rights deals.

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Like Conor McGregor last week, UFC lightweight stalwart Tony Ferguson doesn’t have a number beside his name for the first time in a decade. Following the results of the last event of the year, UFC Vegas 66, El Cucuy’s precarious hold on the final spot at lightweight is now gone.

There isn’t much else from the event that had an effect on the rankings. Manel Kape’s big win over David Dvorak helped him move up at flyweight. And a couple of veterans, Alex Caceres and Drew Dober are now ranked in their respective divisions.

Here’s a look at the few changes this week.

Men’s P4P – No changes.

Heavyweight – No changes.

Light Heavyweight – No changes.

Middleweight – No changes.

Welterweight – No changes.

Lightweight – Dober enters at 14 with his win over Bobby Green. Grant Dawson drops one to 15. Ferguson is out.

Featherweight – Caceres enters at 15.

Bantamweight – No changes.

Flyweight – Amir Albazi rises one to seven, bumping Matt Schnell to eight. Kape is up three to nine. Dvorak drops one to ten. Tim Elliott and Sumudaerji fall one each to 11 and 12.

Women’s P4P – No changes.

Women’s Bantamweight – No changes.

Women’s Flyweight – No changes.

Women’s Strawweight – No changes.

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Fighters had all sorts of finishes over the last twelve months. From knockouts and TKOs to tapouts and tech-subs. While most submissions were run of the mill chokes, there were a few real highlights.

With the UFC schedule wrapped up for 2022, it’s time to look back at some of the stats and figures from the year. There were tons of fights, a boatload of highlight reel KOs, and a bucketful of cool tapouts. We saw everything from wheel kick KOs to d’arce chokes.

Today, I’m taking a look at the grappling side of the game to feature some of the rare techniques UFC fighters used to score finishes in 2022.

Number of UFC fights in 2022: 511

Number of UFC fights that ended via submission in 2022: 98

Types of submission (least common to most common):

Arm Triangle in Clinch: 1
Keylock: 1
Kimura: 1
Rear Naked Choke from Back Crucifix: 1
Scarf Hold: 1
Von Flue Choke: 1
Kneebar: 2
Triangle Armbar: 2
Triangle Choke: 3
Neck Crank: 3
Anaconda Choke: 3
Guillotine Choke Standing: 5
D’Arce Choke: 5
Armbar: 8
Arm Triangle on Ground: 9
Guillotine Choke on Ground: 14
Rear Naked Choke: 38

Jessica Andrade delivers first standing arm triangle submission in UFC history: In her return to the strawweight division, Jessica Andrade put her name in the UFC record book with her first round stoppage win over Amanda Lemos at UFC Vegas 52.

Alexander Romanov delivers the sixth keylock submission in UFC history: Alexander Romanov moved to 16-0 in his career and 5-0 in the UFC with his submission win over Chase Sherman at UFC Vegas 53.

Erin Blanchfield gets the first, last and only kimura submission in the UFC in 2022: Erin Blanchfield picked up her second straight UFC submission win when she stopped Molly McCann at UFC 281.

Zhang Weili delivers a rear-naked choke submission from the back crucifix position: The UFC strawweight title went back to Zhang Weili after she submitted Carla Esparza in the co-main event of UFC 281,

Aleksei Oleinik finished Jared Vanderaa via scarf hold: Twenty-six years (!) into his professional MMA career, Aleksei Oleinik was still submitting opponents in unexpected ways. At UFC 273, he finished Jared Vanderaa via scarf hold.

Cory McKenna becomes the first woman in UFC history to score a Von Flue choke submission: Before UFC Vegas 59, no woman in UFC history had finished a fight via a Von Flue choke. Cory McKenna changed that when she forced Miranda Granger to tap to that technique in the second round of their strawweight scrap.

*Stats via UFCStats

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Sean O’Malley knows he needs to work hard on his grappling if he is to become a UFC champion.

Sean O’Malley is preparing for a potential bantamweight title shot by focusing solely on his grappling.

“Suga” recently beat former champion Petr Yan to earn top contender status and says he is “guaranteed” a title shot against the winner of the proposed matchup between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, who are anticipated to face off in March.

O’Malley told UFC Hall of Famer and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping (h/t Drake Riggs) that he has been focusing less on his striking as he prepares for his first title shot, stating:

“I’m just training, I’m getting better. “I know I need to improve in aspects of my grappling whether I fight ‘Aljo’ or Henry. They’re both very heavy grapplers, so I’m fine with sitting out. I’m literally just grappling. That’s all I’m really doing nowadays. I’m fine waiting a couple months, just keep getting better.”

“I’m in a tricky position,” he added. “I always knew I’d be in this position where you’re at the top of the division. It doesn’t really make sense to fight. I’m guaranteed a title shot. Obviously, ‘Aljo’ and Henry still have to be announced. I’m kind of in that position where do I be smart — like I’ve done my entire career — and just wait for those two dorks to fight or do I risk it and go fight someone else? Which wouldn’t be the intelligent thing to do, but it’s like you only get so many years to fight. I don’t really feel like sitting around too much.”

“I’m leaning towards waiting around for ‘Aljo’ and Henry to fight and just wait for that.”

As for who O’Malley will be fighting for the title, he thinks it will be current UFC bantamweight champ Sterling, who he credited as having better submissions than Cejudo.

“I think ‘Aljo’ probably submits Henry,” O’Malley said. “Who knows how hard Henry’s been training. These last few years he had a baby, he clearly wasn’t in good shape. Every time you saw him at the fights he looked fat and drunk so I don’t know, I think ‘Aljo’ probably chokes him.”

O’Malley is currently #1 in the UFC bantamweight rankings, boasting a professional record of 16-1 (1 NC). He lost to Marlon Vera via injury TKO at UFC 252, which was his only defeat.

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Ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell apparently contemplated retirement right after his UFC 282 loss to Ilia Topuria

After a seven-year undefeated run, number 11-ranked UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell tasted his first-ever official loss. It happened at UFC 282 against Ilia Topuria, where he lost via second-round submission.

For the 28-year-old “Thug Nasty,” going through the experience he went through brought on so much pain, that he thought about calling it a career.

“I’m just feeling … I guess regret, you know?” Mitchell said right after the fight, which was captured on The Thrill and the Agony (H/T MMA Mania).

“I just know I could have done better. I’m just in so much pain that I don’t think it’s worth it to keep going. I want to stop with MMA and I want to take every little bit of focus that I spend every day on MMA, I want to put it into something else.”

Mitchell reiterated his feelings to one of his coaches.

“Everything is meant to be and I’m just going to move on with my life and take all the energy I spent doing MMA, and I’m going to put it into something else. I think I’m going to be extremely successful.”

“That’s why I’m just saying I should f—ing retire after that dude before I go any further, and move on with my life. I just don’t ever want to feel this much pain.”

In a statement he released on social media right after the bout, Mitchell didn’t mention anything about calling it quits. He did express regret about taking the fight, while also revealing that he was dealing with the flu a week prior.

Mitchell was part of Daniel Cormier’s team at the Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated season in 2018. After UFC 282, he dropped to a record of 15-1.

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The ‘Reaper’ was expected to fight Paulo Costa, but his opponent was pulled earlier this week. 

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is officially off of UFC 284.

For its return to Australia, the UFC announced Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa as one of the featured fights for the upcoming pay-per-view on Feb. 11 at RAC Arena in Perth. However, the announcement was premature, according to Costa, who continued to say he had yet to sign a contract.

On Monday, it was reported that Whittaker vs. Costa was officially canceled, as the UFC and ‘Borrachinha’ had failed to come to terms on a new contract. Without an opponent, the ‘Reaper’ is no longer fighting on UFC 284.

“I’m sure you’ve seen the media and the rumors going around right now about the Perth card and it’s upsetting to say — very upsetting to say — they’re true,” said Whittaker in a video shared on Twitter. “The fight with Costa has fallen apart. UFC tried everything in their power to get him to the fight. They gave him the new contract, from what I understand, to take the fight and he still didn’t take the fight. So yeah, the Perth fight is not happening. They’re looking to reschedule me March [or] April. This is very upsetting.

“I’m sorry to all the friends, fans, and family that are heading over there to watch me do work, but yeah, it’s out of my hands,” continued Whittaker. “I’m upset. I was prepared to train through Christmas, to train through New Year’s, to put in the work. We’re already so deep into my camp. Everyone knows that I train. My camps are quite long. I’m already so deep into my camp and work and I want to take the family out and go on holiday after the fight. I wanted to buy the kids some new toys, earn some money, you know, pay the rent. Yeah, all that is put on the back burner for now. All of that has been pushed back. It’s upsetting for me.”

Though he has no specific date or opponent, Whittaker expects to train for whenever and whoever the UFC finds for him.

“I’m just going to train, I’m going to train my hardest, I’m going to train like a demon and just take out my frustrations on the next guy,” said Whittaker. “Whoever they put in front of me. In that first quarter, I’m going to get in there and then do my work.”

Whittaker returned to the win column with a unanimous decision against Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris in September.

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Don’t be scared, homie.

UFC legend Nick Diaz has announced plans to make a comeback in 2023 and is targeting a fight against former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Diaz, who has a professional record of 26-10 1 NC (7-7 1 NC in the UFC) returned to action for the first time since 2015 back in 2021, losing via TKO to former champion Robbie Lawler. This time around, however, he believes he’ll be “quicker,” “stronger,” and “better than ever” in his return to the octagon.

He told reporters in Las Vegas earlier this month (h/t MMA Mania): “You can see me back on top in 2023, I’m making a comeback. I’m going to be quicker than ever, stronger than ever, better than ever—I’m just gonna be a whole new me. Whoever is on top at the time [I want]—preferably Israel Adesanya, if he gets his title back.”

Despite being inactive for the past several years, Diaz remains one of the most popular fighters in mixed martial arts and continues to generate excitement whenever he steps into the Octagon. He last fought at UFC 266, losing via TKO to Robbie Lawler, his ex-welterweight rival.

As a 21-year veteran of the sport, Diaz is currently unranked but boasts notable stoppage victories over top competitors including B.J. Penn, Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley. If he does make a comeback, don’t expect it to be against Adesanya, who is gunning for a rematch with Alex Pereira.

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Ovince Saint Preux will now take on Philipe Lins on a new date.

Heavy-handed Ovince Saint Preux is still facing Philipe Lins next, just at a different date. According to MMA Fighting’s report, ‘OSP’ is now scheduled to take on 2018 PFL tournament winner at UFC Vegas 69, in February 2023.

Originally meant to happen at UFC 282, in December of this year, the bout was cancelled when the Brazilian had to withdraw from the card for undisclosed reasons. Though Saint Preux did get a late replacement in Antonio Trocoli, the pairing once again fell through when visa issues prevented Trocoli from getting to Las Vegas in time.

In his last outing, Saint Preux (26-16) rematched former light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua and defeated ‘Shogun’ again, this time by way of split decision. The victory snapped a two-fight losing skid for the 39-year-old, who had already lost by way of knockout to Tanner Boser and Jamahal Hill.

In a similar situation, Lins (15-5) will also look to put together a new streak after beating Marcin Prachnio via unanimous decision in his last outing. Before the victory, the 37-year-old was on a two-fight losing skid of his own, with a KO loss to the aforementioned Boser and a unanimous decision one to Andrei Arlovski.

Now, Saint Preux is expected to take on Lins at UFC Vegas 69, on February 18, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. So far, no official main event for the card has been announced by the promotion.

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