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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Brendan Schaub has no regrets about his retirement from MMA, although the journey getting there was a little rocky.

Not so much because Schaub struggled with the decision but rather due to a public intervention of sorts held by his friend and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan just days after a 2014 loss to Travis Browne. The podcast that served as an episode of Schaub’s long-running show The Fighter and the Kid ended up as an emotionally charged conversation about why the Ultimate Fighter finalist should call it a career.

“The reality of your skill set, where you’re at now, I don’t see you beating the elite guys,” Rogan told Schaub during the episode. “I don’t see you beating Cain Velasquez. I don’t see you beating Junior dos Santos. I don’t see you beating Fabricio Werdum.

“It’s not that you don’t try hard, that you’re not dedicated, that you’re not disciplined, that you’re not intelligent. There’s shit that other people can do that you can’t do.”

Schaub responded defiantly with plans to return to the UFC, but ultimately that fight against Browne served as the final appearance of his career. A decade removed from that infamous confrontation, Schaub admits it was incredibly difficult to hear Rogan’s words in that moment but looking back now he’s thankful that his friend was brutally honest with him.

“When you’re fighting especially at that level, the UFC level, especially these days everyone is so damn good, you have to be all in,” Schaub told MMA Fighting. “I think when it comes to me in particular, especially when Rogan was talking to me, Rogan knew I had this other set of skills. I think, not to take anything away from Rogan, I think he knew I was going to be successful outside of fighting. He’s like, ‘Dude, you can do all this stuff, what are you doing?’ He was right. He was 100 percent right.

“At the time, I was mad. My mom and my brother and dad were so mad at him for doing that publicly and I told him that. Now they thank him. They’ll call him, they’ll thank him because he’s the one that really helped me out with that stuff.”

Since retiring from fighting, Schaub has continued to produce his podcast alongside comedian and actor Bryan Callen as well as launching his own YouTube channel. He developed Food Truck Diaries — a series that he previously did with Showtime where he would sit down with a fighter, grab some food and engage in a long conversation rather than just a standard interview.

Schaub also got involved in standup comedy among many other endeavors that have kept him plenty busy since he stopped fighting.

While retirement isn’t a “one size fits all” for every athlete, Schaub had plans for a career outside the cage. That’s one of the reasons why he remains satisfied with his decision to call it a career while numerous fighters struggle to walk away.

“The fighters, it’s a special breed to be a fighter, especially at that level,” Schaub said. “It can’t be your entire identity. That’s how I’ve been able to bounce around and do different things. I never just say I’m a football player, I’m a fighter, I’m this, I’m that, I’m a comic, podcaster. I like a bunch of different things. So I never just put myself in one lane. I’m OK getting backlash going, ‘Oh he’s not really into whatever it is, off-roading, he’s not really into comedy, he’s not really into podcasting, oh he’s just a football player fighting.’ All good, people are going to do that stuff.

“I think the No. 1 issue, these fighters get so wrapped up and their identity is just as a fighter. There’s some great personalities out there. Great personalities.”

Despite being retired for the better part of the past decade, Schaub still gets calls every now and again gauging his interest in a comeback.

The most recent instance was an offer from Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA and Schaub admits he was tempted in the moment — mostly due to the financial windfall it would have earned him.

“We had Jorge Masvidal and his manager Dean [Toole] on and I work for them now doing commentating but that’s how that came about. They offered me a fight,” Schaub said. “I’m like bare-knuckle MMA? They’re like yeah. I was like you don’t have enough money, there’s no way. He goes, ‘Give us a number.’ I gave them an outlandish number and he was like dead serious, just looked me in the eye and goes ‘OK.’ I’m like what?

“For a second I’m like shit, I’ll just hit the road now get some road work in now, let’s get going, that’s an insane amount of money. I just can’t force myself to do it. At 41, my kids, I can’t take another blow to the head. I’m good. I don’t need to be Elon Musk or ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone rich. I’m good. I’m good where I’m at.”

Schaub also revealed for the paycheck he would have received that a fight against another top-level opponent would be required and that only further justified his decision to pass.

“They’re like, ‘For that number you’re going to have to fight [Junior dos Santos] or Derrick Lewis.’” Schaub said. “I’m like no, hard pass. I don’t need those problems.”

With no plans to ever fight again, Schaub admits under the right circumstances he would be tempted, but every one of those scenarios is low risk, high reward. If that component isn’t involved, Schaub is happy doing exactly what he’s doing right now, which doesn’t involved getting punched in the head for a living.

“It’s a shame I’m so big,” Schaub said. “Because if a Logan Paul or a Jake Paul came about or a KSI, sign me up! When you’re talking about the [Junior dos Santos] and Derrick Lewis’ of the world? Hell no.

“Now some YouTuber? I’ll play ball there and make all the money and get the views. To fight these actual killers? It ain’t happening. I’ve got kids.”

MMA Fighting – All Posts

The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

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A post shared by Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170)

With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.

• Read More: Former UFC Champion Announces Retirement: ‘I Begged The UFC For 1 More’

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event at MMA News.

MMA News

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Payton Talbott takes a big step up in his next fight as he seeks to keep his perfect record intact.

The blue-chip bantamweight prospect faces 23-fight veteran Raoni Barcelos at UFC’s first pay-per-view show of 2025 on Jan. 18, multiple people with knowledge of the booking told MMA Fighting.

UFC 311 is rumored to take place in Los Angeles, but an official location is yet to be announced.

Talbott, 9-0 in just three years as a professional fighter, has made a major impact so far in the 135-pound division with a trio of UFC wins, capped off by back-to-back bonus-winning stoppages of Cameron Saaiman and Yanis Ghemmouri in 2024.

Barcelos (18-5) tapped Cristian Quinonez in his most recent appearance this past February to rebound from defeats to Umar Nurmagomedov and Kyler Phillips. The former RFA champion holds a UFC record of 7-4, with three finishes to his credit.

UFC 311 so far features four Brazilian talents, with Jailton Almeida battling Serghei Spivac at heavyweight, top-ranked light heavyweight Johnny Walker facing Bogdan Guskov, and Karol Rosa taking on rising bantamweight Ailin Perez.

Mike Heck contributed to this report.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Breaking news on this Thursday as Belal Muhammad is out of his UFC 310 main event with Shavkat Rakhmonov due to a bone infection.

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel gives their first reactions to the news, discuss the latest information, and what the UFC can do to save the card.

Additionally, they answer fan questions about Ilia Topuria’s big win at UFC 308, what’s next for the current featherweight king after knocking out Max Holloway, and if Alexander Volkanovski or Diego Lopes should be next for the belt. Additionally, topics may include Khamzat Chimaev’s absolute destruction of former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the co-main event, other standout moments from the card, Dana White vs. Francis Ngannou, Donn Davis, and the PFL, UFC Edmonton headlined by Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi, and much more.

Host Mike Heck is joined by MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew to answer your questions all show long.

Watch the show live at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT in the video above.

If you miss the show live, you can still watch above, or listen to the podcast version, which can be found below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your pods.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Middleweight next?
| BJPenn.com

Namajunas may not be next in line for a title shot, but she plans to leave no questions as to her worth as a contender with a win over Erin Blanchfield in Edmonton.

Rose Namajunas returns to the cage for the third time in 2024 this Saturday (Nov. 2, 2024) at UFC Edmonton. And she hopes a solid performance against Erin Blanchfield in the ESPN+-streamed co-main event will earn her a women’s Flyweight title shot.

Namajunas is ranked No. 5 and is coming into this bout against the No. 3-seeded Blanchfield on a two-fight win streak. Add in the star power of “Thug Rose” and you’d almost expect her to get next off a win.

The only problem? A decision loss to No. 2-ranked Manon Fiorot, who is undefeated (7-0) in UFC.

“I guess anything’s possible,” Namajunas said of a title shot (video via MMA Junkie). “And yeah, that’s my intention to put on a good performance enough to where there’s no doubt that I could be next.

“But, I still just kinda feel like Manon deserves it next anyways, regardless of what I do,” she added. “You know what I mean? She technically has a [win] over me. I do feel like if that was a five round fight, I think I could have found a way to win. I was finding it towards the end. But it is what it is. If she wins the belt, then it would be great to fight her again. Or have that dream match up with Valentina one day.”

In the end, it’s not Namajunas that makes the call, and if the call came, she’d answer it.

“If the UFC wanted to put me ahead of [Fiorot] with a very spectacular performance, I’d be open to that as well,” she clariefied.

Fighting current champion, Valentina Shevchenko, would be a dream for Namajunas … and possibly the highest profile women’s fight UFC could make in the division.

“She’s definitely always been my favorite female fighter,” Namajunas said of Shevchenko. “She’s somebody that I admire a lot and trained with a lot. It’d be hard for me to not just be fanning out like while I’m fighting her, it’d be kind of weird. But, as a martial artist, it’d be the ultimate dream just to test myself against one of the cherished martial artists in the game right now.”

One thing Namajunas has over Fiorot is activity.

Indeed, the French “Beast” has competed just once per-year for the past two years. Namajunas used to fight sporadically and then disappear for stretches. Since losing to Fiorot in her Flyweight debut (and dislocating her finger in the process), “Thug Rose” has had the most active year since coming off The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) in 2014-2015.

Then there’s also her popularity, which goes a long way in today’s UFC. She’s a two-time champion with wins over some of the most fearsome women at Strawweight. That’s earned her a lot of cred, which could cash in off one more big win.

As good and deserving as Fiorot is of a title shot, Namajunas absolutely could steal next at 125 pounds if she puts a beating on Blanchfield in Edmonton this weekend.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Edmonton fight card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 8 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Edmonton: “Moreno vs. Albazi” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts