CombatSports.org

Joe Rogan saved a nightclub guard from getting his ass handed to him by the welterweight world champion.

During a recent episode of his JRE Fight Companion podcast, the longtime UFC commentator recalled back to a 2021 incident when he had to intervene and stop a bouncer from making “the biggest mistake” of his life. After hosting ‘Rocky’ on his show, Rogan went out to a club with Edwards and comedian Dave Chappelle.

As their evening came to a close a security guard became overly aggressive toward Edwards, seemingly unaware that he was attempting to push around one of the best fighters on the planet.

Recognizing the potential disaster about to unfold, Rogan stepped in and informed the guard of the mistake he was about to make.

“I brought Leon to a show,” Rogan recounted. “Me and him were hanging out then afterwards we all went out to this club. There was this dude, but he was a bodyguard and he talked shit to Leon Edwards. It was at the end of the night and this guy decided he was going to kick everybody out. For some reason, he singled out Leon and he got in his face and said something like, ‘Hey man, I f*cking told you it’s time to leave.’

“And then I got in between and said, ‘I know you’ve probably made some f*cked up mistakes in your life, but you’re about to make the biggest one.’ I go, ‘That’s one of the baddest motherf*ckers on the planet and you’re about to make one of the biggest mistakes of your life’ and he’s like, ‘I’m sorry.’

Leon Edwards goes for his third successful title defense at uFC 304 in Manchester

After scoring his second-straight defense of the welterweight title against an undeserving Colby Covington at UFC 296 in December, ‘Rocky’ will return to the Octagon on July 27 for a clash with the division’s top-ranked contender, Belal Muhammad. The pair will headline UFC 304 when the promotion heads back to Manchester.

The fight will serve as a rematch between the two after their first meeting in March 2021 ended in a no-contest after Edwards inadvertently poked Muhammad in the eye, bringing a stop to the fight 18 seconds into the second round.

‘Remember The Name’ is currently sitting on a nine-fight win streak dating back to April 2019. His last four victories have come against Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns — all top 15 opponents in the 185-pound division.

LowKickMMA.com

UFC

submitted by /u/rmma
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Robert Whittaker believes Khamzat Chimaev would not have fared any better than this past weekend.

This past Saturday, Whittaker was supposed to face Chimaev in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, until an illness forced Chimaev off the card. And while Chimaev has struggled to make it to the cage in recent years, Whittaker says he no doubts “Borz” would make it to the fight, until he was told otherwise.

“Not really, because of the location,” Whittaker told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I do know he’s had trouble getting to certain places and obviously health-wise, but you can’t account for health. Obviously the location, I thought, was pretty bang on for him to get there. But it is what it is. I’m glad he’s doing well. I think he’s much healthier than he was pulling out. Outside of the octagon we’re just people. I don’t want anyone getting sick.”

Instead of Chimaev, Ikram Aliskerov stepped in on short notice to save the event, but things did not go well for him. Whittaker summarily dispatched Aliskerov, knocking him out in under two minutes for his first stoppage win since 2017. And Whittaker believes if Chimaev didn’t withdraw from the event, the result would have been the same.

“I was pretty primed and ready,” Whittaker said. “I am 99 percent sure I would have starched Khamzat as well. Our paths may cross one day in the division, as guys at the top of the game, but he dodged a bullet that night, that’s for sure.”

Of course, Chimaev does not agree. Shortly after Whittaker’s win, “Borz” went on social media, telling Whittaker the two were not done yet, and which Whittaker says simply made him laugh.

“First off I was like, when are you going to see me, bro?” Whittaker said. “You can’t go into a lot of countries. [Laughs]. We’re not going to cross paths, dude. And I’m not going to be in the area. [Laughs].

“Like I said, I’m a middleweight. If he’s a middleweight — because I know he fights at welterweight sometimes as well — if we’re both at the top of the game, our paths may cross. I didn’t duck ya. I didn’t not sign the contract to fight you.”

Since bursting onto the UFC in 2020, Chimaev has struggled to stay active due to a combination of illness and travel restrictions. The next likely date for a Chimaev return would be UFC 308 in October when the promotion heads to Abu Dhabi, and while Whittaker won’t commit to anything right now, if the UFC wants to rebook the fight for then, “Bobby Knuckles” might be amenable.

“Potentially,” Whittaker said about an Abu Dhabi matchup. “Let’s see how it pans out.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

submitted by /u/rmma
[link] [comments]
MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

On the third episode of UFC 303 Embedded, Jiri Prochazka speaks on the duality of man, Alex Pereira enjoys some good eats, Brian Ortega wins a game of Fortnite, Diego Lopes goes in for a pre-fight haircut, and more.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

A Fake McGregor?
| BJPenn.com

UFC

Paige VanZant is getting into every type of combat sport imaginable.

Okay, calling slap fighting “sport” is beyond generous. Regardless, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Strawweight and Flyweight hopeful is trying her hand at the defenseless action next.

As out of left field as it seems, VanZant didn’t think twice about accepting her slap-off against Christine Volmarans at Power Slap 8 this weekend (Fri., June 28, 2024).

“I got called if I would do Power Slap, I said, ‘Absolutely,’ and that was it,” VanZant said at UFC 303 media day (h/t MMA Junkie). “Signed the contract and here I am to do Power Slap. I think it’s exciting for me because it’s like, listen, I am a gangster. Whether people want to admit it or not, I am here to slap somebody, it doesn’t matter what organization, what combat sport, I’m here to take over and have some fun.”

VanZant, 30, went 8-5 in her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, which has taken a backseat since she parted ways with UFC in 2020. Since then, VanZant has primarily fought in bare-knuckle boxing (BKB) but recently put the gloves back on for her professional boxing debut opposite Elle Brooke. They fought to a split draw in May 2024 (watch highlights).

No matter the outcome of her Power Slap debut, it may not be the last time VanZant gives it a go.

“I look back at my UFC career, my bare-knuckle boxing career, everything that I’ve done, you can’t take away how tough I am, and this is like that ultimate test of toughness,” VanZant said. “Stand there, and you’ve got to be able to have the balls to be able to get hit.

“I think the narrative for me right now perfectly falls in line with continuing to do Power Slap alongside my boxing,” she continued. “I still intend to box again at the end of the year. I’m waiting for the date on that. This fits in line with that. It’s preparation, it’s preparing to cause damage and try not to take damage, but inevitably, in Power Slap you’re gonna get hit. So, who knows? I am a woman who does whatever the f*ck I want and right now, I want to do Power Slap.”

MMAmania.com – All Posts

submitted by /u/AliBagovBeatKhabib [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts