2023 closed out on an extremely personal note in the MMA world.

I’ll be the first to admit that last year was far and away one that I’m beyond ready to move on from for a variety of reasons. Hopefully, one of those can be the clouds of negativity brought into the MMA sphere, specifically with the UFC’s headliner bouts, as cascaded into the ether at the final pre-fight press conferences of the calendar. From Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington to Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis, and Ian Machado Garry vs. … the whole internet, to be honest … There was no shortage of discomfort and vitriol to digest by following this sport we know and love so much.

Ultimately, positivity can’t come without negativity, the yin and the yang, and MMA is a form of “art,” after all.

How much is too much? That appears to be the question now, at least for former two-division champion and top bantamweight contender Henry Cejudo, who sees some hypocrisy in Strickland’s situation with his upcoming opponent Du Plessis at UFC 297 in two weeks.

“I wouldn’t share things that bug you if you can’t be an advocate for it,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “Especially to the world. But you’re talking about peoples’ wives and calling people f***, and things of that nature. How do you not expect somebody else to come at you?”

Strickland and Du Plessis’ verbal sparring match at the UFC’s 2024 seasonal press conference took a turn when the South African star told the middleweight champion Strickland he’d beat him worse than his father did as a child. Strickland has revealed several dark happenings about his rough upbringing since rising to fame and his status as the best in the division, admitting recently that comments like Du Plessis’ were bothersome and “off limits.”

The problem with Strickland’s case specifically, which Du Plessis countered after they had their crowd brawl at UFC 296, is that he’s generally one of the first to verbally attack a fighter on a personal level. One of which being the aforementioned Garry and his wife Layla Anna-Lee after concerns arose around the couple’s marriage when an old book authored by Anna-Lee resurfaced online.

Cejudo coined himself the “King of Cringe” when he first became a UFC champion in August 2018 and entirely shifted his persona to a more vocal, but self-aware, version of himself. Therefore, this led to more trash talk than he’d ever done before, including some gender-specific jabs at opponents — female fighters included — and intelligence-related insults. However, with things as personal as what Strickland is concerned about, the Olympic gold medalist in wrestling advises silence.

“I hope you can come to the consensus to be able to accept the fact that you’re in this game, bro,” Cejudo said to Strickland. “Learn how to play, don’t be [mocks crying]. You can’t, man.

“It’s the same with [Alexander] Volkanovski. Volkanovski is showing his cards that he goes through anxiety if he doesn’t fight. Like, bro, like what the f***. Keep some of that s*** to yourself. The world doesn’t need to know.”

Before Cejudo gets back in action for a showdown with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298 next month, Strickland and Du Plessis get to settle their differences. The title tilt will be Strickland’s first defense as UFC champion and typically, emotions ahead of a performance haven’t played any factor in his performances.

The admittance of the issue with Du Plessis’ overstepping adds an extra wrinkle to the matchup for Strickland. It just depends on whether or not it will make a good or bad difference.

“If he goes into that fight emotional … you know what happens when you fight somebody emotional?” Cejudo asked. “You don’t stick to the gameplan, you wanna hurt ‘em, and because you want to hurt ‘em, you’re gonna expose yourself. You’re gonna be throwing things you would never throw before. You’re gonna be throwing a lot of power, and you know what happens when you throw a lot of power? You’re gonna get burned.

“It could also motivate a guy like Sean Strickland. I mean, how many times have we all been wrong? Sean Strickland is made different.”

TOP STORIES

Roundtable. MMA Fighting shares the possibilities of who will main event UFC 300.

Zombie. Bryce Mitchell: ‘Everybody was crying and they thought I was dead’ after UFC 296 knockout

Rematch. Ben Askren ready to come out of retirement to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 300

Cause. UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida books charity MMA fight vs. Down syndrome man in Brazil

VIDEO STEW

Between the Links.

Finishes you forgot in 2023.

Free fight.

Volk fight camp.

Zombie Trip Ep. 6

LISTEN UP

Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses what will headline UFC 300.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Understandable frustration.

Champ gear.

Interesting.

Canada time.

Lol, what happened, Chael?

Good guy moment.

Something to grind.

They truly don’t even try anymore.

FINAL THOUGHTS

To speak from a personal level, especially after this past year, there couldn’t be a stronger disagreement with Cejudo regarding silence around struggles. To try and head into the weekend on a lighter note though (sorry, guys…), a round of applause to Bryce Mitchell for the wholesomeness with Kelleher.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the UFC break’s final weekend before we’re back to rolling! Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.

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Interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall is visibly irritated and becoming impatient with the continued absence of former two-time undisputed champion, Stipe Miocic, as the Atherton native continues to stake his claim for a quickfire return to the UFC.

Aspinall, the current interim heavyweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 295 back in November at Madison Square Garden, landing the interim crown with a blistering opening round knockout win over Russian striking phenom, Sergei Pavlovich.

Tom Aspinall hits out at Stipe Miocic

And calling for either a title unification bout against current champion, Jon Jones next, or even an interim title fight defense against Ohio native, Miocic, Aspinall is apparently growing impatient with the veteran’s continued absence from the Octagon.

“Last time Stipe (Miocic) fought and won, GTA: San Andreas had just come out on PS2,” Tom Aspinall posted on his official X account. “He will fight next for the undisputed heavyweight title, ahead of me, who’s the interim champ, active and ranked number one in the world right now. This makes me quite upset.” 

Yet to make a return to the Octagon since 2021, Miocic has been sidelined since he dropped his undisputed heavyweight championship at UFC 260 – after finding himself on the receiving end of a brutal second round knockout from two-time opponent, Francis Ngannou. 

“Stipe is one of my favorites,” Tom Aspinall posted. “Loads of respect to him, his résumé is far superior to mine rn (right now). That being said the UFC has never been about this. It’s about who’s the best right now, and I believe that’s me and it’s only right I get to prove it. #FreeAspinall.” 

Who wins in a future title clash: Tom Aspinall or Stipe Miocic?

LowKickMMA.com

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Fighter of the Year
| BJPenn.com

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

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

A New Yorker heading south to visit the Jersey shore? That’s a tale as old as time.

According to a first report from Laerte Viana, Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight kingpin, Chris Weidman, will attempt to bounce back into the win column opposite power-punching finisher Bruno Silva at UFC Atlantic City, which is scheduled for March 30, 2024 from inside Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Per the report, contracts are yet to be signed but both parties have verbally agreed to the match up.

This bout could be considered a last stand for Weidman. The former champion has lost four of his last five bouts dating back to 2018, but just as importantly, he’s broken his leg in consecutive fights! Admittedly, the specific injury was different, as Weidman shattered his own shin throwing a low kick versus Uriah Hall, whereas low kicks landed by Brad Tavares fractured the head of his tibia last time out.

UFC CEO Dana White was practically begging him to retire after the Tavares loss, but it appears that Weidman is still our boy for at least one more fight.

“Blindado” Silva isn’t an easy task by any measure, but the Brazilian banger has been struggling as well. He’s lost four of his last five too, including high-profile defeats to the likes of Alex Pereira and Brendan Allen. Fortunately, a knockout win over Brad Tavares in April 2023 has kept him afloat at 185-pounds, though this could still be considered a must-win fight for Silva too.

Who ya’ got?

Insomnia

This is a great action clip, but I definitely see GGG connect on a few of these shots …

Merab Dvalishvili is simply built different. Accept it!

This drill is deceptively tiring! At any rate, Petr Yan and Muhammad Mokaev working together at Tiger Muay Thai should produce good results for both.

Definitely a technique we could see utilized more in MMA.

Jailton Almeida is (hopefully) pulling a Diego Sanchez and doing some good in the world.

It doesn’t appear that UFC is likely to be surpassed any time soon.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

It’s always risky to rush an opponent in the cage. They just might stand their ground!

The best time to catch submissions is during transitions between stand up and ground work, a uniquely MMA moment.

Demian Maia was always going to be a nightmare style match up for Carlos Condit.

Random Land

Colorful!

Midnight Music: Soft rock, 1971

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

MMAmania.com – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Josh Emmett calls out Max Holloway following a devastating knockout win over Bryce Mitchell. 

Following the first two back-to-back losses of his career, Emmett was in search of a win against Giga Chikadze, but the Georgian had to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Mitchell would take the fight on late notice and pre-fight opinion was split after Emmett’s recent outcomes and that he was now 38. 

However, it would take Emmett just under two minutes to land a devastating right hand, knocking out Mitchell with a single shot. Mitchell would remain stiff in unconsciousness before begging to seize. 

Josh Emmett calls out Max Holloway for future matchup

With the victory, Emmet places himself straight back into the mix at featherweight and could see himself straight back into a big fight. 

Appearing on Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson’s podcast, Emmett specifically named Holloway as who he would like next.

“I want to get back to that title, that’s my goal,” Emmett said on the JAXXON PODCAST  (h/t MMA Junkie). “I’m going to do whatever it takes to become a world champion, and I want to fight someone in front of me.

“In my opinion, the clearest shot to the title — and it would be the toughest fight as well — give me Max Holloway,” he continued. “He’s the No. 1 contender. I think it’s the right fight at the right time. That’s what I want. He was a phenomenal champion in and out of the Octagon. He’s a huge name, and he’s cleared out the entire division. He’s fought everyone but me. Let’s do it.”

Holloway is quickly running out of matchups at featherweight having already lost to Alexander Volkanovski three times but beating all other contenders he has faced.

Do you think the UFC should make Max Holloway vs. Josh Emmett?

LowKickMMA.com

Sean O’Malley is already one of the biggest names in the sport but that doesn’t stop him from being ambitious. The entertainer believes if everything goes to plan, he will reach the popularity heights of the sport’s biggest superstar, Conor McGregor.

Hoping to set his plans into motion as soon as possible, the bantamweight looks to make the first defense of his title when he meets Marlon Vera in March. Not only will this be a battle between two of the very best 135ers in the world, but their history, the controversial ending to their first fight, and the intrigue of their rematch only add to the spectacle once the cage door closes.

While sitting down with Megan Olivi, Sean O’Malley spoke about his rise to the top and how everything perfectly worked out for him.

“I think the UFC did a good job with, you know, placing me in certain fights and stuff,” O’Malley said about his rise to fame. “It was a lot of knockouts. I love looking back on the highlight reel, that never gets old.”

“The narrative was like I never fight the toughest guys and then, you know, 2022, well you know, I fought Petr Yan who was ranked number one. Next fight I fight the greatest bantamweight of all time Aljo. So my last two fights kind of take that narrative away.”

“I was never turning fights down, I was just accepting the fights they offered me. So, you know, it’s worked out perfect.”

With the number of high-level opponents in his division, O’Malley detailed the main difference that may have earned Marlon Vera the title fight over them.

“Money, 100%. And it’s not even just my call. If it was my call, it would [still] be ‘Chito’, but it’s not my call, it’s the UFC’s call. The UFC picked ‘Chito’ because me versus ‘Chito’ is a bigger fight than me versus Merab [Dvalishvili] [or] me versus Cory [Sandhagen].”

“Those are big fights because I’m involved but me versus ‘Chito’, like I said, three years before I won the belt that happened. I think it’s twice as big of a fight as me versus the other people.”

Sean O’Malley then laid out his plans for the year. Hoping to fight twice, the bantamweight king believes two standout performances could put him in the same stratosphere as Conor McGregor.

Related: Ilia Topuria manifests Conor McGregor clash, claims he’ll never fight Sean O’Malley

“By the end of 2024, I’d like to fight two times. ‘Chito’ obviously [in] March, I would love to go out there and put his lights out. You know, winning a decision is boring, just that doesn’t sound very exciting.”

“I mean, if it’s a war, [then] maybe. But even then it’s like, taking someone out, they’re done, they’re finished, they couldn’t continue. That’s what I want.”

“And then I would like to get another one in by the end of the year and be the biggest star in sports, not just combat sports. I think I go out there and put two beautiful performances together, I will be as big as Conor.”

“The UFC’s grown 40, 50% since Conor really was in his prime. That COVID really boosted the UFC, so I have a lot more eyeballs, a lot more opportunity to become, you know, more of a star.

“When I say stuff like that, people are always like, ‘Oh, you’re a wannabe Conor.’ He’s the biggest star in combat sports, of course, I would want to be as big as him.”

Check out Sean O’Malley’s interview with Megan Olivi below.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

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