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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

In some ways, Sage Northcutt has been preparing to fight Shinya Aoki for nearly three years.

Following a litany of injuries suffered in his ONE Championship debut, Northcutt was ready to return to action in April 2021 when disaster struck yet again. Just before he was set to travel to Singapore for the fight, he started feeling sick, and it didn’t take long to realize he wouldn’t fight.

“I think if I remember correct, maybe a week and a half before flying out to Singapore for the fight, came down with COVID,” Northcutt said when speaking to MMA Fighting. “Didn’t even know I had it at first. I kept training, I was like I’m run down pretty bad, felt really sick. Got tested, tested positive for COVID.

“It was pretty much to the point of having the fight. I was right there. I was very bummed out about that. You couldn’t have predicted that would happen.”

Another long layoff followed before Northcutt finally made his return to action this past May, almost exactly four years after his last fight. He ended up spending just 39 seconds in the cage, snatching a nasty heel-hook submission to put away Ahmed Mujtaba in his first win in nearly five years.

Northcutt admits it was an incredible feeling, even if it didn’t even really felt like he fought that night.

“It felt so good,” he said. “I can’t describe the amount of feelings that I had going back out there after almost four years. Stepping out there, you have the butterflies, your nerves are going, but it’s the good kind of nerves. Where you’re anxious to get out there and perform. I put in so much hard work, trained so hard. It felt really good to get out there and get a win also.

“I didn’t really feel like I had a fight! I’m thankful it went the way it did. I got to show a little bit of my skillset that I’ve been working on. I always like to go out there and perform in a way that excites the crowd.”

If not for some nagging injuries, Northcutt was glad to compete again in 2023. But instead, he’ll make his return at ONE 165, which airs as a pay-per-view broadcast on Jan. 28 at 3 a.m. ET in the United States. That’s when he’ll finally get the chance to face Aoki after going through a second training camp to prepare for the submission specialist and legend from Japan.

“This is something that’s been in the works for a long time, especially for Shinya, too,” Northcutt said. “He was in a fight camp the whole time, too.

“I think the biggest thing, this is a big opportunity for me. He’s not only a legend of the sport, but he’s had 60 pro fights. He’s an ex-champion for ONE Championship. This is the biggest fight yet. Something I’m looking forward to.”

There’s no secret Aoki’s best weapon is his grappling. In 47 career wins, he has finished 30 by submission.

Aoki will typically do almost anything to get the fight to the ground, which often includes grabbing onto his opponents and pulling them down to the canvas with him.

Northcutt knows all too well that Aoki won’t likely spend much time trading strikes on the feet, and there’s a good chance they’ll end up on the ground together at some point. He would remind Aoki and anybody else watching that this isn’t just a grappling match.

“I guess the good part is it’s mixed martial arts,” Northcutt said. “It does start standing up. If we get to the ground, it’s not just grappling out there. You do have strikes. ONE Championship has a different set of rules. You can elbow from anywhere you want. You can knee to the head on the ground, knee to the body. You have practically everything at your disposal.

“It’s not just a grappling match. Same thing with the striking. It’s not just a striking match. Being prepared to do what it takes out there.”

If he does get caught up in those scrambles, Northcutt has confidence he can hang with Aoki and simultaneously deliver plenty of damage of his own. He’s done everything possible to ensure that he won’t join Aoki’s highlight reel, and instead, it will be the former ONE champion added to his.

“I train with some of the best wrestlers, the top jiu-jitsu guys in the world,” Northcutt said. “I have a team of great coaches, a great team at Team Alpha Male.

“I feel very confident in my grappling skill set, especially taking into the fact that it’s not just straight submission grappling out there. It is mixed martial arts. Grappling with strikes, grappling with everything combined in there. I’m feeling good about it.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Career change?
| BJPenn.com

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight!

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Just about a week ago (Jan. 20, 2024), Dricus Du Plessis dethroned Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 297. The victory sent the title home with him to South Africa and stands out as the most important of his career, but it wasn’t without controversy.

Plain and simple, Du Plessis vs. Strickland was a close fight. Strickland’s jab was the most effective strike of the fight, but he didn’t throw much else, whereas Du Plessis unloaded the entire arsenal at his opponent. He also pressured Strickland throughout and landed a healthy handful of takedowns, but ultimately, both men were bloodied and worn by the end of 25 minutes. Two of the three judges awarded Du Plessis the decision victory, but it was close enough to argue for either man.

It’s hardly the first time a title has changed hands via split-decision, and even with a possible clash of heads in the mix, it doesn’t feel like it should be such a dramatic scene. Yet, the online MMA sphere is more toxic than ever, and the decision is at the heart of the outrage.

Maybe there shouldn’t be any controversy at all? Du Plessis revealed on the SuperSport Unplugged podcast that Strickland admitted defeat to him in the cage privately and outright.

“He came to me in the cage, and I think this is the first time publicly I’ll say this, he came to me in the cage,” Dricus explained. “Right before they announced me as the new champion. I went to him and I shook his hand, and I said, ‘You’re a warrior, well done, it was a great fight.’

“And he said, ‘No, you definitely beat me.’ He said to me, ‘You deserve it, you won that fight, you beat me.’ I also think so!”

There’s been no audio of this alleged admission released as of yet. From his immediate post-fight interview until now, however, Strickland has been consistent in arguing he deserved the win. Maybe those public statements will help him secure a rematch someday in the future?

Insomnia

Jared Cannonier needs that knee to heal up quick, lest he become the forgotten Middleweight contender. “Killa Gorilla” vs. “Stillknocks” sounds fun!

A look into Benoit Saint-Denis’ strength and conditioning routine:

It’s only bad form if it doesn’t work.

… Maybe it’s not much of a surprise that Manel Kape missed the 125-pound limit.

Legalize knees to grounded opponents! In the interim, CSAC is potentially taking a big step forward.

Khalil Rountree getting some technical sparring in Thailand:

Conor McGregor flies around the globe and finds himself in odd situations.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Body kick to set up the high kick, a story as old as time!

A lead leg high kick ends the fight suddenly.

Nine times out of ten, falling off the back mount and trying to catch an arm is a bad move. Here’s the one!

Random Land

Whiplash.

Midnight Music: Noise rock, 2023

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Tony Ferguson might have been less than 100 percent in his most recent fight.

The former UFC interim champion revealed on social media that he suffered an MCL tear two weeks before Thanksgiving, which would have been less than a month before his UFC 296 fight with Paddy Pimblett on Dec. 16. Pimblett went on to defeat Ferguson via unanimous decision, sending “El Cucuy” to his seventh straight loss.

See Ferguson’s Instagram post addressing the injury below.

“F***** my s*** up during a practice sesh, MCL tear,” Ferguson wrote in a caption. “I kept it to myself and put it behind me ‘til after the fight. I trained like no one knew, s*** hurt so good. Three weeks before fight time I told a few of my crew. Nothing changed.

“I recently took care of my leg (my MCL) and had surgery last Thursday one week after my elbow/arm surgery (both arthroscopys). Thought I would get them both done and double down. Got it over with so I can do what I do best. Beyond rage is an understatement. I feel no despair, just repair.”

Ferguson, 39, showed flashes of being a high-level competitor, but was unable to outlast Pimblett over three rounds. In the aftermath of his most recent loss, Ferguson has given no indication that he plans to retire, despite UFC CEO Dana White saying that he ‘would love’ to see Ferguson call it a career.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Move over Dr. Quinn, Dr. Nick, and Doogie Howser. We’ve got a new M.D. running things and his name is Dr. Merab.

Riding a nine-fight win streak, Merab Dvalishvili will head to Anaheim, California on February 17 looking for his 10th win in a row and a long-awaited shot at the bantamweight world championship. Standing in his way at UFC 298 will be former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo. ‘Triple C’ enters the bout determined to bounce back from a failed attempt to dethrone then-champion Aljamain Sterling in May.

Ahead of their potential title eliminator, Dvalishvili delivered a clever bit of trash talk via a post on Instagram. Morphing into a whole new persona, Dr. Merab, ‘The Machine’ poked fun at the bantamweight division’s top 10 while suggesting that his next opponent is suffering from an accute case of brain damage.

“Hey Henry Cejudo, what are you talking about me? Don’t think I forgot about you,” Dvalishvili said on social media. “Brain damage. We have a result from hospital. Henry Cejudo has longer tongue than himself. But no worries, Dr. Merab will fix this problem on February 17th. See you there Henry!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Merab Dvalishvili (@merab.dvalishvili)

Multiple fighters, including Aljamain Sterling, were highly entertained by Dvalishvili’s hilarious dig at Cejudo and much of the 135-pound weight class. “Lmaooo brooo! This is too good!” Sterling commented. Paulo Costa posted a series of laughing-out-loud emojis in response while MMA interviewer Nina Drama wrote, “Merab is the FUNNIEST fighter in all of MMA.

Merab Dvalishvili currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the bantamweight rankings, one above Henry Cejudo. With a win over ‘Triple C,’ he will likely punch his ticket to a title fight with the winner of UFC 299’s title clash between defending champ Sean O’Malley and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

LowKickMMA.com

Despite being a UFC mainstay for over a decade, Jon Anik now might be on his way out of the sport. While many support the 45-year-old, Sean Strickland has taken a different approach.

Anik is considered one of the best play-by-play commentators in the history of combat sports, but his 12-year career with the UFC may be coming to an end. The Boston native had a recent run-in with toxic fans which left him contemplating his future.

After the comments were made, fans and fighters alike showed their gratitude for Jon Anik for his brilliant work under the UFC banner. In typical Sean Strickland fashion, he had a unique view on the matter and made his thoughts known on social media.

“What I’d say to Jon Anik calling MMA fans ‘the lowest common denominator’,” Strickland said in reaction to Anik’s comments.  “These people are why you have a paycheck and you make way more than most.”

“Maybe the NFL is a better choice for you than MMA… Also, you guys are a bunch of savage c*nts. I’m here for it.”

What id say to Jon Anik calling mma fans" The lowest common denominator"

These people are way you have a paycheck, and you make way more than most… Maybe the NFL is a better choice for you than MMA….

Also you guys are a bunch of savage cunts.. I'm here for it…..

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) January 27, 2024

Sean Strickland is no stranger to controversial statements but this one has divided opinion. Many of his cult following have sided with his comments, while others continue to stick by Anik and believe he doesn’t deserve the negativity coming his way.

The strange altercation involving Anik stemmed from the commentator’s reaction to Strickland’s recent defeat to Dricus Du Plessis.

Jon Anik scored the fight for the eventual winner Du Plessis, which didn’t sit well with some fans. He then became a target for a select group of online trolls, causing him to speak out against it during a recent episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast.

Related: Sean Strickland coach takes responsibility for UFC 297 loss

“Because even if you and I both thought Dricus Du Plessis won the fight, we try to present that information respectfully. And when I go into X or I go to our YouTube comments, it seems like a lot of these fans are just in attack mode.”

“I appreciate the passion, but I’m getting to a point at 45 years of age where I don’t know how much time I have left in this MMA space.”

Watch the full episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast below.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Vince McMahon is out.

On Friday, WWE president Nick Khan informed employees that McMahon tendered his resignation as the executive chairman from TKO Group Holdings — the merged company with the UFC and WWE — and he will no longer have any association with the company.

“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors,” Khan said in an e-mail to employees. “He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”

The news comes just a day after a former WWE employee named Janel Grant filed a lawsuit in Connecticut against McMahon, John Lauranaitis, the former head of talent relations at WWE, and WWE with a wide range of disturbing allegations including sexual abuse, sexual assault and sex trafficking.

In a separate statement, McMahon maintained his innocence regarding the lawsuit but ultimately he decided to step down from his role at TKO where he remains one of the largest single shareholders in the company.

“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.

“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.”

The end of McMahon’s reign at TKO comes less than a year after WWE was taken over by Endeavor and then combined into a new company with the UFC. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel serves in the same role over TKO along with voting power that allows him to maintain control over the entire company.

Ultimately, TKO didn’t fire McMahon or ask him to step down, although his resignation happened rather quickly after the lawsuit was filed.

McMahon previously retired from WWE in 2022 following allegations of hush money payments amid a sexual misconduct investigation at the professional wrestling outfit. McMahon stepped down from his role as chairman at WWE but it was a short lived exit as the company’s largest shareholder made his return six months later and inserted himself back into the business.

WWE eventually sold to Endeavor in a blockbuster deal but Emanuel said at the time that McMahon was an invaluable member of the team and there was never any talk about booting him from the company.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Emanuel said this past April. “Because I’ve got Vince McMahon, a visionary that sees around corners. I’ve got Dana White [at UFC] and what we’ve built. That’s pretty unstoppable.

“Combined, it’s rarefied air, the two of us. I think the analysts will see it’s good for the shareholders of WWE and it’s good for the shareholders of Endeavor.”

In the end, the relationship lasted just nine months amid the latest allegations and the lawsuit filed against McMahon.

MMA Fighting – All Posts