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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

If Cannonier isn’t getting a title shot, he wants an opponent that gets him to a title shot. In his mind, that’s Khamzat Chimaev.

No. 4 ranked middleweight Jared Cannonier is returning to action soon after suffering a bad knee injury, and he’s eyeing a match-up with hot contender Khamzat Chimaev in the hopes that it gets him to a title fight.

Before Khamzat Chimaev ended up fighting Kamaru Usman as a replacement opponent at UFC 294, the promotion called Cannonier to see if he would step in. Unfortunately, he tore the MCL on his right knee and couldn’t accept the fight.

In a new interview with Inside Fighting, Jared is now hoping to be cleared to fight by the end of March, and sees “Borz” as a stepping stone to the 185 pound belt.

“It’ll sound cool to say ‘I’m your huckleberry.’ It does sound cool,” he said regarding Chimaev. “At this point and time, he’s ranked No. 9. I’m down to make it happen, as long as it’s clear that this is a [No. 1] contenders match. When I get back, if they’re not gonna give me the title, [give me] the next best thing, the thing that gets me to the title. And if you say that’s Khamzat, let’s do it.”

“They really want to push him to the title, he really wants to get to the title. And I’m right here,” he added. “I shouldn’t have to say ‘Hey, I want a title shot.’ It’s clear and evident that the ass I’ve been kicking says that I want the title shot. So if it’s not gonna be the title next, I will definitely fight the next guy in line. And if it’s Khamzat, let’s make that happen. Let’s do a fiver, let’s see what he’s got in five rounds.”

Cannonier has two decision wins over Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori since a lackluster title fight loss to Israel Adesanya in July 2022. There was little chance he was going to get another shot at “Stylebender,” but the division is looking wide open right now with Dricus Du Plessis as the champion.

“He’s a pressure fighter, he is a present fighter,” Cannonier said of Du Plessis. “He doesn’t try to pull you into traps, he’d rather run you over and kick your head off … I know he’s a big guy and he likes to lean on his strength and stuff. I’ve seen that before, I’ve dealt with strong guys before. I’m more than capable of overcoming any sort of challenge any of these guys bring to me, so that fight is gonna be a banger: with me banging on his head and putting him away real quick.”

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida took his first loss in years, but all for a good cause.

Saturday night in Salvador, Brazil, the rising UFC contender entered the Demo Fight cage to meet Alvaro Borges, an athlete with Down syndrome, in a MMA exhibition match. Almeida told MMA Fighting prior to the match that he was very happy to “help Alvaro’s dream come true.”

Borges grappled with “Malhadinho” and even tried some spinning kicks, and eventually got the tap with an armbar in the second round.

Watch the contest below.

Demo Fight founder Demistocles Brito told MMA Fighting that his decision to book special matches on almost every card comes from his love for an autistic nephew, saying that “Demo Fight’s goal is to not only reveal new talents, but also promote inclusion.”

Almeida’s next official fight takes place March 9 in Miami, at UFC 299, where he takes on Curtis Blaydes. The Brazilian is coming on a perfect 6-0 octagon run with five finishes, while Blaydes attempts to rebound from a knockout defeat to Sergei Pavlovich.

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Despite claiming that the world wouldn’t see him in action until later this summer: Conor McGregor is now teasing a fight at UFC 300.

About a few months ago, ‘The Notorious’ took to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter to announce his battle with Michael Chandler at Middleweight, on June 29th. However, the date and matchup were never confirmed by Dana White or the UFC. So, the real return of McGregor is still technically up in the air.

Now, however, McGregor has taken to the platform formerly known as Twitter (again) and released a mysterious message to the world and his fans. “McGregor on 300 seals the deal,” he said.

Michael Chandler responds to Conor McGregor’s mysterious Tweet

Poor Michael Chandler has been getting strung along by the idea of a money fight with Conor McGregor for what has seemingly been eons now. While he’s been holding out for the chance to face the biggest MMA star in the world, there has been nothing concrete to seal the deal as far as public knowledge goes.

Chandler would reply to McGregor’s most recent tweet, and accept the challenge. Even though in the Irishman’s latest callout: Chandler’s name wasn’t even mentioned.

“I accept,” Chandler would respond. “See you soon @TheNotoriousMMA #ufc300.”

Last in action against Dustin Poirier in 2021, the road to recovery for McGregor has been a long one after breaking his leg during that fight. Since then, McGregor has starred on TUF (again) and has a blockbuster movie called Road House with Jake Gyllenhaal set to release in March of this year on Amazon Prime.

As far as Chandler goes, he’s been on hiatus from the sport for the last two years as he’s patiently waited for his money fight against Conor McGregor. Now, the fight finally seems imminent, but McGregor remains cryptic in what his true plans are.

Who do you think Conor McGregor’s opponent will be, and when do you think he will actually make a return?

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler could be fighting sooner than expected.

Though McGregor recently announced that he would be fighting Chandler in a middleweight bout on June 29—a date and matchup that has not been confirmed by the UFC—the fighters’ talk turned to UFC 300 this past weekend, with McGregor tweeting “McGregor on 300 seals the deal,” suggesting that he might compete at the landmark April 13 event instead.

Chandler responded by quoting McGregor’s tweet and writing, “I accept. See you soon.”

It should be noted that though Chandler answered McGregor’s call, McGregor did not explicitly mention Chandler or any other opponent in his initial tweet.

McGregor has been ramping up for a massive comeback as he prepares for his first fight since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. He also has a starring role in the film Road House, which premieres on Amazon Prime on March 21.

A matchup between McGregor and Chandler has seemingly been in the works for over two years, with Chandler repeatedly calling McGregor out and eventually landing a spot opposite the former two-division champion on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year. McGregor and Chandler served as opposing coaches with the expectation that they would be booked to fight at a later date.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Anthony Joshua is treating his next fight as a world title opportunity.

Though no belts will officially be on the line when Joshua steps into the ring with Francis Ngannou this March, Joshua views the former UFC heavyweight champion as a chance to prove he’s still the best boxer in his division. Joshua has held multiple world titles in boxing, but he has been without gold around his waist since a pair of losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Should Joshua defeat Ngannou, it could set him up to challenge for boxing titles again, but for now, he’s preparing for Ngannou like he’s the man to knock off the top of the mountain.

“Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on that,” Joshua said on The MMA Hour when asked if he expects a title shot with a win over the PFL’s Ngannou. “I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.

“Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot. He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work. And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”

There is a vast gap between Joshua and Ngannou when it comes to boxing experience. Though Ngannou was a dominant force inside the octagon, in the ring it’s Joshua that has been one of the best in his sport for years. The Englishman is 27-3 in his career, with his only losses to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr., the latter of which Joshua avenged in an immediate rematch.

Ahead of a fight with Otto Wallin this past December that Joshua dominated, it was expected the ex-champ would face Deontay Wilder sometime in 2024. The only problem was that Wilder lost to Joseph Parker in the co-main event of the Joshua-Wallin card, which put that matchup on the shelf for the mean time.

Joshua and his team were left to weigh their remaining options, and Ngannou won out.

“I thought it might be Wilder still, because the contracts were signed, and it’s still a big fight,” Joshua said. “It’s still an amazing fight, it’s a crossover between U.K. and U.S.A., all that good stuff promotional-wise, it’s still a good fight.

“So no, I kind of let that one slide for, and then it was the [Flip] Hrgovic situation, the Ruiz situation, and then they put Francis there, and my team were like, ‘This is a good opportunity on this day in Saudi Arabia against this opponent. What are you saying?’

“I said, ‘Let’s roll. Let’s go.’”

Joshua repeatedly expressed that he has respect for Ngannou’s boxing skills. Ngannou impressed in his pro boxing debut this past October, going 10 rounds with heavyweight star Tyson Fury and scoring the lone knockdown of the fight in Round 3. However, when the judges’ decision was read, it was Fury who saw his hand raised via split call.

Does Joshua feel like he needs to beat Ngannou more definitively to make a statement?

“Me and Fury are completely different,” Joshua said. “I’m just going to do exactly what I need to do, and I’m just going to focus on myself. The minute I start focusing on what Fury does, I’ve already lost the fight. I’ve already put myself at a disadvantage. If I just focus on what I’m good at and do what I do, I’m putting myself at an advantage. So I’m avoiding any Fury relations or what he’s done and so on and so forth.

“But let me tell you this: Every opponent that me and Fury have in common, I’ve either stopped or knocked out.”

Joshua vs. Ngannou takes place March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Harrison may be able to make 135 pounds, but will she be able to compete effectively in the cage after doing it?

Two-time Olympic gold judoka Kayla Harrison is fighting Holly Holm at UFC 300, but what kind of Kayla are we going to see in the Octagon considering their fight will take place at 135 pounds?

Harrison was north of 170 pounds when she won her gold medals and has spent the majority of her MMA career competing at 155. She fought once at 145 pounds back in 2020, but has never competed at 135 pounds. She has reportedly done some test cuts to women’s bantamweight and is happy with the results, but Miesha Tate would like to remind her that hitting the weight and competing well after are two different things.

“When I saw it was at 135, I was shocked,” Tate said on SiriusXM’s Fight Nation. “Because Kayla Harrison begged for a 155-pound division at PFL, and she got it, and I think she’s been great there. She’s been tremendous. I know she’s made 145 before, I think it was tough for her. I think 135 is going to really suck the life out of her, and it’s not the best move.”

It’s unfortunately the only move Harrison could make since the UFC folded the Women’s Featherweight division after Amanda Nunes retired in August 2023. If she wants to check ‘UFC fighter’ off the list of career accomplishments, she needs to fight at 135.

“I guess I’m speaking from personal experience,” Tate continued. “Because when I went down to 125, although I did it and I still had a pretty decent camp, I just didn’t perform at my best. And I think Kayla is really used to being such a big, strong woman, that she won’t have that on her side, and I’m really curious to see how that’s going to benefit her with someone like Holly, who really does move so well. She really has some of the best footwork in the women’s divisions. And I think that’s going to be tough for Kayla.”

Harrison has previously said she’d have to cut both her legs off to make 135. Now she’ll be doing it and stepping in against the most accomplished opponent she’s ever faced in mixed martial arts. No wonder Tate has her doubts.

“I’m pumped for Kayla,” Miesha clarified. “I’m excited for her to come over here. I think it’s going to be really good, but if you’re asking me who I think is going to win that fight, looking at it right now, I would say Holly.”

UFC 300 goes down April 13th from Las Vegas, Nevada, so at least Harrison will have the folks at the Performance Institute to help her on her quest to bantamweight. Once the cage door closes, though, she’ll be on her own.

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