Israel Adesanya | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
UFC 305 takes place this Saturday in Perth, Australia headlined by a middleweight title matchup between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, so the No Bets Barred boys are back with a full breakdown of the event.
Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a wide-ranging discussion on the Olympics, UFC Vegas 95, and some other topics before diving into UFC 305. Can du Plessis defend his title or will Adensanya become only the second person in history to win a title three times in the UFC? Will Steve Erceg or Kai Kara-France reinsert themselves in the flyweight title picture? Can Tai Tuivasa finally bring back the shoey celebration?
All that and more on this week’s episode.
Tune in for episode 98 of No Bets Barred.
New episodes of the No Bets Barred podcast drop every Wednesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts. The latest episode can be heard below.
Sean Strickland is frustrated by the lack of coverage surrounding his allegations against former fighter Tiki Ghosn.
Never one to hold back on social media, Strickland recently shared a story on Instagram claiming that he’d met someone whose daughter was allegedly abused by the former UFC and WEC fighter.
Tiki Ghosn let me know when I should start my go fund me.. me and the father and the girl are willing to go to court and fight this. pic.twitter.com/OSni6rRKQA
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) August 13, 2024
“So Tiki, what I say to you is, if you want to sue me for slander, defamation, I’m not slandering you, I’m not making this up,” Strickland said in the video. “This is what was told to me by the girl’s father. If you want to sue me, I will crowd-fund this, and we will go to court, and I will fight you” (h/t TheSportster).
Strickland’s accusations also include claims that Ghosn engaged in inappropriate relationships with minors and accepted sexual favors from fighters.
24 hours after dropping his bombshell, Strickland was shocked to find that none of what he said had been reported on, suggesting that it just goes to show how well-connected Ghosn is.
48 hours and nothing.. Tell me there is not a cover up.. I can't sneeze without it coming up on Google… the flow of information is controlled pic.twitter.com/AqCV2h4do3
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) August 13, 2024
“48 hours and nothing,” Strickland wrote on X. “Tell me there is not a cover up.. I can’t sneeze without it coming up on Google… the flow of information is controlled.”
The fighter-turned-manager has not yet responded to the accusations against him, but Strickland is more than prepared to aid the alleged victim in filing a lawsuit against Ghosn, should she choose to do so. Strickland also claimed in a pair of follow-up posts that more victims have come forward and that Ghosn’s actions are well-known in certain MMA circles.
Who is Tiki Ghosn?
Ghosn is the founder and CEO of The Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center which opened on January 1, 2001. There, he has worked with multiple former world champions, including BJ Penn, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Michael Bisping, and Tito Ortiz.
Ghosn operates Arsenal Sports Agency, a management company that represents various athletes including Dustin Poirier, Aljamain Sterling, and Chael Sonnen, among others.
The California native retired from mixed martial arts in 2009, finishing his career with a 10-8 record, including two wins via knockout and a pair of submission victories. He went 0-4 inside the Octagon. and only recorded one win in four outings under the WEC banner.
Ghosn was also managed by Dana White before White became president of the UFC.
Having spent time earlier in his career training in both Scotland and England, Johnny Walker eventually found his way to SBG Dublin in Ireland.
Joining the gym in 2020 after facing some adversity following his rapid climb up the light heavyweight rankings, the Brazilian has spent the majority of his UFC tenure with this team.
Here Walker would develop a great relationship with head coach John Kavanagh, who is most well known for being the main man in the corner of Conor McGregor.
However, following another patch of difficult results, it looks like the knockout artist is now looking to take himself out of his comfort zone once again.
Recent photos that were posted by “iamthebay” on Instagram show a training session at the American Kickboxing Academy, or AKA, in California.
Here, Walker can be seen getting some work in with the likes of Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov, as well as the UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by iamthebay® (@iamthebay)
MMA Fans React To Johnny Walker Training Alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov After Years At SBG
Walker has always been a fighter that generates talking points both in and out of the cage and this has now extended to his training.
Though it’s far from uncommon to see fighters move between top gyms during their careers, you won’t see many that switch from McGregor’s home base to that of his arch rival’s.
In Walker’s case, working with some of the top grapplers in the sport could help to round out his skill set, making this invaluable training for him.
MMA fans reacted on social media to the images of Walker and Nurmagomedov sharing a mat together.
“If Johnny comes into his next fight with a chin I’m heading to dagestan”
“Ain’t gonna help the Glass chin but sure”
“Good idea to change his fighting style”
“Johnny Walker will become Dessert Eagle”
“If he leaves John Kavanagh for Khabib and AKA, he can maybe turn his career around”
“I know Conor is big mad seeing this. Walker was training at SBG, which is Conor’s gym now hes training at AKA, which is Khabib’s gym…”
I know Conor is big mad seeing this. Walker was training at SBG, which is Conor’s gym now hes training at AKA, which is Khabib’s gym…
— The Combat Sports Matrixer (@TheCSMatrixer) August 14, 2024
“The best move, as proven with all the fighters that go train with them”
The best move, as proven with all the fighters that go train with them
— Ruflon (@RuflonMMA) August 14, 2024
“Khabib swap your chin with him he needs it more than you”
Khabib swap your chin with him he needs it more than you
— GSP (@MMAsaintPierre) August 14, 2024
Read also: Belal Muhammad On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Ability 4 Years On From Retirement: ‘Could Come Back & Be A Champion In Any Division’
Continue Reading ‘Ain’t Gonna Help The Glass Chin But Sure’ – MMA Fans React As Johnny Walker Ditches Conor McGregor’s Gym To Train With Khabib Nurmagomedov at MMA News.
Photo by Kari Hubert/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images
Strikeforce and BKFC veteran Lumumba Sayers has been arrested on murder charges after he allegedly gunned down a man to avenge his son’s death.
According to an arrest affidavit first obtained by Denver7 on Monday, Sayers was arrested this past Saturday after he allegedly approached a man at a child’s birthday party and shot him in the head. The incident took place at Pioneer Park in Commerce City.
Sayers is currently in custody in Adams County, Colo. on first-degree murder and felony menacing charges and he’s being held on $ 1 million bond, per court records obtained by MMA Fighting. His next court hearing is scheduled on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. local time.
The victim later identified as Malcolm Watson, 28, is believed to be a friend of a man who was previously accused of killing Sayers’ son in a shooting that took place in August 2023. A suspect named Tyrell Braxton was later arrested in connection with the killing of Sayers’ son but charges were eventually dismissed.
The arrest affidavit involving Sayers states that “this murder was probably in retaliation or revenge” but doesn’t detail a further connection between Watson and Braxton.
According to the report, Watson was at a birthday party when a witness claimed that Sayers walked up and shot him “in the head at close range.” Sayers allegedly went back to Watson’s body and attempted to shoot him a second time but his gun “jammed.”
Witnesses claimed that Sayers then took some keys from Watson’s pocket and allegedly attempted to plant a gun near his body.
Sayers was reportedly despondent following the death of his son after they both worked tirelessly together on a program to help at-risk youths to avoid violence in the community.
The now 46-year-old veteran fought as recently as March when he competed at a BKFC event in Denver. In his MMA career, Sayers is best known for his time spent with Strikeforce where he fought a number of notable names including Anthony Smith, Derek Brunson and Scott Smith.
Dana White officially raised the stakes for Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305.
The UFC CEO revealed Tuesday night that if du Plessis successfully defends his UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya on Saturday at UFC 305, the promotion will take its next 185-pound title fight to du Plessis’ home country of South Africa.
“You have one of these situations where, both guys, everything is on the line, especially because they dislike each other so much,” White said. “And if [du Plessus] can beat Izzy and bring that belt back to South Africa, obviously we’ll do an event there. And if Izzy can retain and win the title, it’s huge for him and his legacy — not retain, but regain.”
UFC 305 takes place August 18 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Du Plessis, 30, captured the UFC middleweight title in January with a split decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. The first South African champion in promotional history, du Plessis holds a perfect 7-0 record in the octagon, earning stoppage wins over the likes of Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, and Derek Brunson, among others.
Adesanya, 35, is a two-time former UFC middleweight champion. “The Last Stylebender” was expected to face du Plessis in late 2023, however du Plessis was unable to make the date and Adesanya instead fought Strickland, losing in a shocking and one-sided upset. Adesanya’s 12-fight win streak at 185 pounds to kick off his UFC career was the second-longest streak in UFC middleweight history, second only to MMA legend Anderson Silva.
Du Plessis and Adesanya have traded barbs for more than a year at this point, becoming fierce rivals over du Plessis’ argument over what constitutes a “true African champion.”
Given the history between the two men, White expects a rocky week in Perth.
“I’m sure [there’s tension]. [It’s a] big fight,” White said. “Every time guys hate each other like this, the fight usually ends up sucking, but I have a really good feeling this one won’t. You’re talking about, if you’re looking at what Israel Adesanya has achieved in his life, not just here but in kickboxing too, and Dricus, he brings it, man. He comes.”
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will not be returning to the octagon this year. UFC CEO Dana White revealed the news on Tuesday during the Dana White’s Contender Series post-fight press conference in Las Vegas.
White and McGregor spoke over the weekend and White stated, “He wants to fight.” White also divulged that McGregor will not be back in action this year.
“He won’t fight this year,” he said.
McGregor was scheduled to face Michael Chandler in the UFC 303 main event on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but was forced out of the bout due to a toe injury. The matchup was expected to be rebooked for December, but that’s not happening.
The McGregor and Chandler fight has been in the making since they coached The Ultimate Fighter 31 as opposing coaches last year. It’s unclear whether McGregor will still face Chandler when he does fight again. Chandler seemed to have moved on from the McGregor bout in a recent interview calling for a rematch against former champion Charles Oliveira.
McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. McGregor last tasted victory in January 2020, defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone via technical knockout in just 40 seconds.
File under: Mmafighting.com | Leave a comment »