Alex Pereira is renowned for dropping his opponents; it’s just usually in the octagon, and certainly not while wearing a bunny costume, but on this occasion, he made an exception.
In the name of content creation, ‘Poatan’ dressed up as the furry animal and unleashed a brutal blow to the body of a YouTuber who bit off a little bit more than he could chew.
Alex Pereira sends YouTuber crashing to the ground with heavy body shot
Alex Pereira has undeniably cemented his place as one of the most fearsome punchers in combat sports history.
Throughout his career, the legend has utilized his dynamite hands to render his opponents unconscious in horrifying fashion.
With hands of stone, Pereira has scaled the mountain in not one but two sports, picking up world titles in the UFC and Glory Kickboxing.
Over the years, the 37-year-old has compiled a tremendous legacy, destroying the likes of Israel Adesanya and Jamahal Hill.
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With this in mind, the idea of a YouTuber voluntarily stepping up to the plate to take a punch, seems like madness.
However, that’s precisely what Podpah decided to do. Someway, somehow, the social media star convinced Pereira to put on a bunny suit to film one of the wackiest videos MMA has ever seen.
From the very first punch, Podpah, who was dressed as a gladiator, felt the pressure, almost folding in half as the shot detonated.
The second blow dropped him to the floor, but in a testament to his fighting heart, he rose to his feet for one more roll of the dice.
Alas, the third and final hit prompted Podpah to release a howl as he crumbled to the ground.
Realizing his opponent wasn’t getting up, Pereira, still happily wearing his bunny ears, shadowboxed for the camera.
Struggling to come to terms with what they’d witnessed, the fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions.
One said: “This feels like a fever dream’, while another added: “Bro is a killer bunny.”
MMA legend thinks Alex Pereira has a massive advantage over Tom Aspinall
When he’s not knocking out YouTubers, while dressed as a fluffy animal, Pereira is making waves in the UFC.
With the middleweight and light heavyweight belts already on his resume, the warrior would love to make history by stepping up to heavyweight and winning a title in a historic third on WWE.
Chael Sonnen believes Tom Aspinall will face the harsh reality at UFC 309
Despite being complimentary of Sonnen, the former UFC title challenger recently had some pretty disappointing words for the interim champion.
With Jones and Miocic’s recent inactivity, Aspinall is widely regarded as the true champion in the heavyweight division despite his status only being interim champion.
However, Sonnen believes that Aspinall must face the harsh reality come December 7, as when Jones and Miocic step into the Octagon, he believes everyone will forget about the interim title.
“Is Tom Aspinall aware that when he comes out with the (interim) title for any interviews that he does moving forward, the moment that bell rings, whoever is opposite is no longer the champion? The fans and the media think if Stipe beats Jones, there’s a new champ. But the reality is, the interim belt fades the second Jones and Miocic face off,” Sonnen claimed in a video on his YouTube channel.
- BOXING VERDICT: Conor McGregor provides a verdict on Tyson Fury’s blockbuster boxing rematch against Oleksandr Usyk
Conor McGregor and Tom Brady are two of the most famous athletes of all time, making the prospect of the pair hosting a BKFC event together, nothing short of mouth-watering.
Having spent years at the top of the UFC and NFL, respectively, the pair undeniably know what it takes to put on a show.
Conor McGregor and Tom Brady asked to put on a BKFC event at Birmingham FC’s soccer stadium
While Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in several years, he’s been making waves in the world of BKFC, promoting significant events, with a spectacle in Marbella, capturing the imagination of the public.
The outdoor event looked truly epic, with the likes of Austin Trout and Franco Tenaglia showcasing their skills under the Spanish sun.
The outdoor extravaganza has inspired a plethora of BKFC fighters, with one desperate to have a similar experience in the UK, by fighting at Birmingham FC’s St Andrew’s Stadium.
The club has risen in fame in the US in recent times, with Tom Brady purchasing shares in the side, with dreams to take the team to the next level.
Dana White reveals all: Mike Tyson inspired the way the UFC ‘is built’
Connor Tierney, who became the BKFC UK champion in August, is keen to get the ex-UFC champion and the former Super Bowl winner together to put on a truly spectacular fight night.
Replying to a McGregor Instagram post, he said: “You’ve got to come to watch Birmingham city @bcfc with @tombrady next so we can use the stadium as a venue for @bareknucklefc.”
Conor McGregor and Jon Jones impacted by ‘extracurricular’ activities as MMA icon names his MMA Mount Rushmore
In his magnificent career, McGregor has proven his skills beyond doubt. Alas, in the eyes of a legend, he’s not definitively earned his place on a mythical MMA Mount Rushmore.
The former UFC world champion in question places a lot of weight on on how a fighter represents themselves outside the cage.
With this in mind, he’s not convinced ‘The Notorious’ and Jon Jones have done enough.
The icon revealed the mixed martial artists he believes have gone above and beyond to claim their places on the mountain.
The greatest flyweight rivalry ever?: Adriano Moraes reflects on his feud with Demetrious Johnson
Mike Tyson has always been one of the most feared fighters on the planet, but that wasn’t always the case, the legendary boxer has detailed the moment his fighting life changed forever.
Mike Tyson‘s boxing journey started when he was just 13 years old, and at the time, he was getting involved in petty crime and walking down the wrong path in life.
Whilst at a detention center for young offenders, Tyson was approached by former boxer, Bobby Stewart who saw raw talent in the kid at the time.
Mike Tyson details what Cus D’Amato told him that changed his fighting life
Tyson has always admitted that he wouldn’t wish his life on anyone because at times it has been too much for him to handle, however, when he was introduced to Cus D’Amato by Stewart, his life changed for the better.
D’Amato became a massive inspirational figure in Tyson’s life and even became his legal guardian after welcoming him into his home.
The Italian-American boxing trainer began to train Tyson and began guiding him down the right path, providing him with priceless knowledge about the sport of boxing.
During his early days in the ring, Tyson was considered overweight, and D’Amato was always critical of that. Despite that, in his autobiography, ‘Undisputed Truth’, Tyson has detailed something that Cus told him, that proved to be a life-changing moment.
“Man, I wish you had a body like Mike Weaver or Ken Norton, because then you would be real intimidating. You’d have an ominous aura. They don’t have the temperament but they have the physique of an intimidating man. You could paralyze the other boxers with fear just by the way the way you look,” D’Amato told Tyson.
After admittedly getting choked up by D’Amato’s words, Tyson responded: “Don’t worry, Cus… You watch. One day the whole world is going to be afraid of me. When they mention my name, they’ll sweat blood, Cus.
“That was the day I turned into Iron Mike, I became that guy 100%. Even though I had been winning almost every one of my fights in an exciting fashion, I wasn’t completely emotionally invested in being the savage that Cus wanted me to be. After that talk of being too small, I became that savage.”
- NOT HIS LAST: Mike Tyson reveals that his fight against Jake Paul likely won’t be his last… ‘They have offered me some other stuff’
Mike Tyson being backed by heavyweight legend ahead of Jake Paul fight
On November 15, ‘Iron’ Mike will controversially return to professional boxing at 58 years old when he takes on Jake Paul.
The two were scheduled to meet earlier this year, but the fight was postponed when Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up on a flight, resulting in him not being able to train for the fight.
Although he is being written off by many pundits in the combat sports world, one fighter who is backing the feared heavyweight, is Lennox Lewis.
“It’s hard to box when you’re that old, moving around the ring, throwing punches, getting punches thrown at you, but I think he can handle it,” Tyson’s former foe told Sky Sports.
Tyson’s fight against ‘The Problem Child’ takes place from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and it will air live on Netflix.
Tensions almost boiled over between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather when the pair came face-to-face in 2014.
The legendary heavyweight was appearing on stage at a WBC convention in 2014 when he got to meet Mayweather, with whom he had a testy relationship. Both men are considered legends of the boxing game, and at the time, the welterweight great was still competing at the highest level.
Tyson had previously named Mayweather his dream opponent, despite outweighing the smaller man by as much as 100lb. And while it seems that tensions have thawed in recent years, the pair almost came to blows that one night in Las Vegas.
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Mike Tyson swung a punch at Floyd Mayweather in intense meeting
To celebrate 52nd annual WBC convention in 2014, 112 world champions graced the famous Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. This included a number of major names including Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya.
But perhaps the biggest story of the night came when the iconic two-time heavyweight champion Mike Tyson met five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather. The pair came face-to-face on stage, and it very nearly came to blows as an angry Tyson charged the stage.
He appeared to swing two punches in Mayweather’s direction after being offered his hand, although he held back from actually coming any way close to his rival. He then offered the famed welterweight an intense handshake and hug.
For his part, Mayweather appeared to find the entire ordeal funny, and famously didn’t even flinch. Many commenters noted that even at the age of 47, Tyson’s speed was such that he likely didn’t even see the punches in time to flinch.
Immediately after the swing, Tyson stared Mayweather down before eventually offering the handshake. And he continued to give an intense look at his rival until eventually being distracted by other legends on the stage.
Mike Tyson named Floyd Mayweather his ‘dream opponent’ despite massive size difference
The feud between Tyson and Mayweather seems to date back to an interview the heavyweight gave that April. He was ringside for Rod Salka and Alexei Collado’s showdown, and was discussing the future prospects of then-undefeated Sammy Vasquez who was competing on the night.
And during the broadcast, he was asked which fighter he wishes he could have faced throughout his career. “Floyd Mayweather,” he replied, before noting that “I would have loved to have fought him, I wish he was my weight.”
He then named Roberto Duran as his favourite fighter of all time. But he noted that Muhammad Ali was the greatest fighter, which may have led to the future issues that arose between he and Mayweather over the years.
Mike Tyson slammed Floyd Mayweather as ‘scared little man’ over Muhammad Ali comment
By 2015, the legendary Muhammad Ali was approaching his final days after a lengthy battle with Parkinsons disease. But despite the reverence with which he was held by all in the boxing world, the brash Mayweather reckoned he was the greatest of all time, even above the icon.
This enraged Tyson, who was interviewed by UK RBGs at the time, and gave a legendary response. “He’s very delusional,” he said. “If he was anywhere near that realm of greater than Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself.
“He can’t take his kids to school by himself and he’s talking about he’s great? Greatness is not guarding yourself from the people, greatness is being accepted by the people, he can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little scared man, he’s a very small, scared man.”
In the years since, Mayweather’s stance on the issue hasn’t changed. He believes his impressive 50-0 record, which also saw him never take any major punishment in a fight, makes him the all-time best, ahead of an Ali that he feels may be overrated due to his activism outside the ring.
- Who is Floyd Mayweather? Meet one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time
One of the biggest fight nights of the year is almost here as Jake Paul and Mike Tyson do battle in the boxing ring.
Many were surprised to hear the news that Paul would face ‘Iron Mike’ and the pair were originally scheduled to fight on 20 July, only for Tyson to postpone at the last minute due to an ulcer flare-up.
Paul has already fought twice this year, beating Ryan Boulard and Mike Perry, whereas former heavyweight champion Tyson will return to boxing after a four-year absence.
Both are looking good going into the fight and many are predicting a close contest when the talking is done.
- Who is Jake Paul? Get to know the YouTuber-turned-boxing sensation as he prepares to fight Mike Tyson
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson date and start time
The fight will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Friday 15 November 2024.
Fight night is expected to begin at 7:00 PM ET/1:00 AM (Saturday) GMT, while the main ring walk isn’t expected to take place until 10:00 PM ET/4:00 AM GMT.
All of those times are subject to change.
How to sign up to a Netflix account for Jake Paul vs Tyson
To sign up for a Netflix account, follow these simple steps:
- Go to netflix.com/signup
- Select a plan
- Enter an email address and create a password
- Enter a payment method
- Click Finish
- Verify your account with the email Netflix sends you
How to get Netflix for free
Unfortunately, there is no way to get Netflix for free as the streaming platform does not offer a trial service.
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson rules
At the time of writing, the fight will be sanctioned as a professional bout but due to concerns around Tyson’s health, the fight may be downgraded to an exhibition fight.
It will be contested over eight two-minute rounds, despite Paul’s proposal of making each round a three-minute one.
Both fighters will use 14oz gloves and neither will wear headgear, with knockouts permitted.
As it’s a professional bout, this will be added to the pair’s official records.
- Who is Mike Tyson? All you need to know about the boxing legend ahead of match with Jake Paul
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson full card
In addition to Paul vs Tyson, Katie Taylor will fight Amanda Serrano as a co-headliner.
Taylor beat Serrano via split decision at Madison Square Garden in August 2022 in one of the best fights in recent years.
Also featuring will be Mario Barrios, who is defending is WBC welterweight title against Abel Ramos.
Full card:
- MAIN EVENT: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
- Katie Taylor (c) vs. Amanda Serrano – for WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles
- Mario Barrios (c) vs. Abel Ramos – for WBC welterweight title
- Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes
- Shadasia Green vs. Melinda Watpool
- Lucas Bahdi vs. Corey Marksman
- Bruce Carrington vs. Dana Coolwell
With blistering combinations and a fearsome aura, ‘Iron Mike’ has undeniably written his name in the combat sports history books.
Dana White based the commentary for UFC on a Mike Tyson fight
Before the UFC exploded on the global scene, boxing dominated the fighting world, with legends like Mike Tyson capturing the imagination of the public.
Therefore, when Dana White entered the game, he could look at the way other promotions worked and could make alterations for what he would eventually deem a superior product.
Something that really aggravated him was commentary, with the American once rendered furious by what the pundits were saying.
When Tyson made his major return to the sport against Francois Botha in 1999, White couldn’t believe the negative things that were being said about the icon.
Legends: ‘When people remember Demetrious Johnson, they’re going to remember Adriano Moraes’
Thus, when he started crafting his commentary team for the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, he vowed to do things very differently.
On an episode of HotBoxin, with ‘Iron Mike’ himself, the businessman explained: “The way that the UFC production is built, was based off Mike Tyson’s walk-in to that DMX song, when he was coming back for the Francois Botha fight.
“Tyson’s walking into the fight, and I use this as an example all the time, I show people, they (the commentators) are sh**tting on Mike from the minute he starts walking in.
“I couldn’t f***ing stand listening to these clowns. I used to literally watch HBO Boxing and mute the commentary, because I couldn’t stand these f**ing guys.
“So, when we started building the commentary for the UFC, you don’t ever see the commentators s**t on the fighters.”
Joe Rogan made huge change to his podcast after scary interview with Mike Tyson
It looks like White isn’t the only person Tyson influenced, with Joe Rogan making massive alterations to his podcast after a terrifying sit-down with the power puncher.
While the formidable boxer is now mild-mannered and friendly, at the peak of his powers, he was a truly frightening individual, capable of knocking out anyone with one shot.
And in the build-up to his exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr, he flicked a switch, releasing the old Mike back into the public sphere.
During the interview, Rogan saw just how much of a savage the warrior can be, and realized he needed to make a change to the way he conducted his podcast.
This will surprise you: Randy Couture has wild pick for the greatest MMA fighter of this era
This coming December from the Kingdom Arena, one of the biggest rematches in heavyweight boxing history takes place when Tyson Fury looks to avenge his loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
This past May, Tyson Fury was handed his first-ever boxing loss when he was defeated by Ukrainian powerhouse, Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight classic fight.
Shortly after, ‘The Gypsy King’ activated his rematch clause and the two are now scheduled to rematch on December 21 at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.
Conor McGregor provides a verdict on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch
Someone that has really integrated himself into the boxing world over the past few years, is Conor McGregor. The Irishman was in attendance for their first meeting in Riyadh, and will likely be front row for their rematch.
With their first fight being extremely close, ‘The Notorious’ has given his prediction for how the second fight will go and how he expects the British boxer to step into the ring this time around.
“We’ve always got to win our fights scheduled. You certainly don’t want to be on the receiving end, especially from a guy like Oleksandr Usyk,” McGregor told talkSPORT.
“But that was a close fight also, and I thought Fury had his moments. Fury is another guy who can make great adjustments and if you look at his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, he got better as it went on.
“I’m expecting a much more dialed-in and tactical Tyson Fury, and the size difference is substantial. But Usyk is a very crafty boxer and that’s a hell of a fight. UK heavyweight boxing is in a great place,” McGregor continued.
One reason why boxing is in a very healthy place at the moment is because of Turki Alalshikh, who continues to make fights between the best fighters in the world, something the sport has struggled to do for several years now.
With Turki now also providing a more hands-on approach to the UFC, McGregor is hopeful that he can help facilitate his comeback to the Octagon.
- BATTLE WOUNDS: Khalil Rountree Jr shows off permanent battle scars inflicted by Alex Pereira at UFC 307
McGregor claims Anthony Joshua should wait for Daniel Dubois rematch
Another boxing fight McGregor was front and center for was the recent all British affair between former champion, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.
‘Dynamite’ Dubois knocked Joshua out cold in the fifth round of their fight, resulting in a viral reaction from McGregor.
Following the fight, boxing fans called for Joshua to hang up the gloves but he came out shortly after claiming that he won’t be retiring. For several years, combat sports fans have longed for a fight between Joshua and Fury, with that looking increasingly unlikely now.
‘The Notorious’ believes that Joshua should wait for a rematch against Dubois instead of diving into anything else.
“I thought Joshua did some good things as well but he made errors when he got excited and started to put the back hand on him. But I’m excited to see that one again. He has shown in the past that he can put the corrections in place and make amends like he did in that (Andy) Ruiz fight.
“I’d like to see him have another go. Dubois was phenomenal on the night and it will be a tough task for Anthony, but if anyone can do do it, it’s AJ,” McGregor claimed.
A month after his war against Alex Pereira at UFC 307, Khalil Rountree Jr has shown off the permanent scars he has suffered at the hands of the Brazilian champion.
This past October, Khalil Rountree Jr challenged Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title at UFC 307 in a controversially put together fight.
Despite the criticism from the fans that Rountree Jr was given the title shot, ‘The War Horse’ went on to put on an extremely gritty performance against ‘Poatan’ making it a close fight for the first few rounds.
Khalil Rountree Jr shows off permanent scars inflicted by Alex Pereira
Despite the close few rounds at the beginning of the fight, the Brazilian champion once again showed the world why he is the current pound-for-pound number one fighter on the planet, when he stopped Rountree Jr in the third round after a hellacious barrage of strikes.
The 34-year-old was leaking blood from several areas of his face following the fight, with nasty cuts above and below both eyes.
Since the war, Rountree Jr has provided an injury update with a close up image of his face, showing off permanent scars inflicted by Pereira.
Enjoying some time off from fighting with his family, Rountree Jr’s face seems to have healed pretty well, but there will be permanent reminders of the battle he went through with Pereira.
Following the fight, Rountree Jr thanked ‘Poatan’ for teaching him that he is ‘ready to take on the world’, and his pursuit to the title will start again. It is unclear as of now who the 34-year-old will take on next, however, there have been previous calls for his fight against Jamahal Hill to be rebooked.
- CONVERSATION: Michael Chandler reveals the conversation he had with Jon Jones ahead of sharing UFC 309 card with him
Alex Pereira admits his hands still hurt from UFC 307 fight
Although it was Rountree Jr that came out of the fight looking worse for wear, the champion has admitted that he is still not feeling 100% following the fight last months.
“That fourth round, I was throwing jabs and hurting my hand. I swear I was thinking, ‘My hand must be broken’. It still hurts now. Not all the time but if I squeeze it here, it hurts,” Pereira told Popdah.
“I saw that the jabs were working, I thought, ‘I have to hurt him’. But then I hit him right there in the (forehead), one of the hardest parts (of the body), and it kept hurting,” Pereira continued.
Despite still suffering from the wear and tear of a brutal fight, Pereira has hinted at once again saving the UFC’s day by headlining UFC 310 after Belal Muhammad withdrew from his scheduled main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
- STREET FIGHTER: Ilia Topuria’s street fighting past revealed as UFC superstar’s mother inserts herself into Islam Makhachev beef
Muhammad Mokaev will take to the cage for the first time since leaving the UFC, with the Brit set for a massive fight in Brave CF.
The talented grappler is looking to make a massive statement to prove he’s still one of the best flyweights in the world.
Muhammad Mokaev will make his comeback in December
At the end of the year, Muhammad Mokaev will finally return to the promotion where he started his professional career.
Earlier today, the organization released a poster, promoting two ‘epic nights’ at the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, Bahrain, on December 13 and 15.
The events, where ‘sports meets entertainment’, promises huge celebrities and an array of world-class fighters.
Mokaev features prominently on the poster, confirming that he will grace the Brave CF cage on one of these dates.
Legends: Adriano Moraes reflects on his rivalry with ‘Mighty Mouse’ ahead of ONE 169
could indicate that the grappler will compete at Brave 91.
However, the promotion will likely confirm this either way in the very ne
Muhammad Mokaev speaks out after upset loss in grappling event
In his mixed martial arts journey to date, Mokaev has looked nothing short of sensational, dismantling every fighter who’s dared set foot in the cage with him.
He most recently defeated Manel Kape at UFC 304, before discovering that the promotion would not be renewing his contract.
Keen to stay active while awaiting his return to Brave, the 24-year-old participated in a grappling match with Rogerio Bontorin at ADXC 6
In a monumental upset, Mokaev lost the contest, but in a testament to his class, he subsequently took to Twitter to congratulate his rival.
The fighter said: “Today, I lost by split decision at the grappling event against a very tough opponent! He had a better plan, I congratulate him and his team! Another 15 minutes of experience.”
This will surprise you: Randy Couture has wild pick for the greatest MMA fighter of this era
Former UFC superstar Nate Diaz traded his signature for a scrap with a fan who wanted him to autograph his fight gloves.
Nate Diaz, despite his UFC leave in 2022, remains one of the biggest combat sports superstars in the world. As he ponders his next fight, he has plenty of options, including a possible return to the UFC Octagon.
In the meantime, Diaz continues to draw) swarms of fans wherever he goes. He’s often recognized while out in public, especially near his native Stockton.
One fan who ran into Diaz didn’t waste an opportunity for an autograph. He approached Diaz and asked the former UFC standout to sign his fight gloves.
- READ MORE: ‘Beyond petty’… Fight fans explode after Francis Ngannou left out of Top 100 UFC APEX knockouts
Nate Diaz signs fan’s gloves in exchange for impromptu spar
While Diaz said yes, he did it with a condition: a sparring session on a city sidewalk. Diaz posted the spar on his Instagram story on Monday.
“This dude pulled up on me to sign these gloves so I made him fight me,” Diaz said. “He lost tho. Shoutout to homie he was down to fight.”
It’s been a wild ride for Diaz; from park fights in front of 300 people to becoming a household name in combat sports. Nate’s brother, Nick, is set to make his UFC return next month at UFC 310 against Vicente Luque.
Nate Diaz eyes UFC comeback, potential trilogy with Conor McGregor
Diaz became a global superstar when he pulled off one of the UFC’s all-time upsets at UFC 196. On days’ notice, Diaz tapped out Conor McGregor, who was previously unbeaten in the UFC Octagon.
McGregor got the better of Diaz in their UFC 202 rematch by majority decision. Both sides have expressed interest in making their trilogy happen if Diaz and McGregor both make it back to the cage.
Diaz parted ways with the UFC after a UFC 279 headlining win over Tony Ferguson. He’s since teased an eventual return to the UFC for potential big-name fights with McGregor and others.
Diaz earned his first professional boxing win over former BMF foe Jorge Masvidal earlier this year. He bounced back big after falling to Jake Paul in his boxing debut in 2023.
A Diaz autograph is a hot commodity amongst fight fans. But, fans should be prepared to trade hands with one of the toughest fighters in the world.
UFC bantamweight contender Song Yadong responded to Sean Strickland’s self-expressed hate for Chinese people.
Sean Strickland is inarguably one of the UFC’s biggest stars after an upset win over Israel Adesanya last year. After winning the middleweight belt, he became a pay-per-view standout and a fan favorite.
What also is inarguable is Strickland’s ability to ruffle many feathers across combat sports and find himself in various controversies. During his UFC tenure, he’s made controversial remarks about women, homosexuals, and those who oppose his worldview.
Last month, Strickland made several disparaging comments about Chinese people in an interview. He called Chinese people “bad Asians, savages, and animals” in a hateful rant.
Bantamweight contender Song Yadong, one of the UFC’s biggest Chinese stars, took immense exception to Strickland’s comments.
Song Yadong scolds Sean Strickland for ‘discrimination’
In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Yadong responded to Strickland.
“Last time, I saw your interview with Sean and I heard him say a lot of negativity about Chinese people,” Yadong said. “However, I don’t think he’s ever been to China before, yet believes Chinese people are a certain way.
“Since he’s talking his way, he’s no different than toxic fans. I believe this is discrimination towards Chinese people. I really respect him as a fighter but, what he’s saying is not good. If he’s willing to, I can show him around China because there’s good and bad in every country.”
As of this writing, Strickland hasn’t responded to Yadong’s comments.
- READ MORE: ‘Beyond petty’… Fight fans explode after Francis Ngannou left out of Top 100 UFC APEX knockouts
Song Yadong becomes latest UFC fighter to criticize Sean Strickland
Strickland is expected to face UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis next in a rematch of their UFC 297 showdown. Du Plessis defeated Strickland by split decision to win the UFC middleweight title.
Yadong was briefly linked to a UFC Tampa booking against Umar Nurmagomedov, although it appears that fight is off the table. He’s currently nursing an injury as he prepares for his UFC comeback.
Yadong has defeated the likes of Chris Gutierrez, Ricky Simón, and Marlon Moraes during his UFC tenure. He hasn’t fought since a loss to Petr Yan at UFC 299 in March.
While Strickland is one of the UFC’s biggest fan favorites, his antics outside of the cage aren’t universally beloved. Yadong is one example of a fighter not being afraid to confront Strickland on his stances.
One of Francis Ngannou’s wildest knockouts was curiously left out of the UFC’s Top 100 Apex knockouts compilation.
Since the UFC and Francis Ngannou parted ways in 2023, things have remained testy between the two sides. After a lengthy contract dispute, Ngannou opted to decline the UFC’s final contract offer and test free agency, signing with the PFL and making his professional boxing debut.
In recent weeks, Ngannou and UFC CEO Dana White have traded barbs in the media over their messy split. White went as far as to claim he wanted to cut Ngannou repeatedly during his UFC tenure but was persuaded by business partners to keep him on the roster.
Ngannou went on to win the UFC heavyweight championship by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. The UFC Apex pay-per-view headliner was one of the most-anticipated fights at the time.
Ahead of UFC Vegas 100, the promotion’s 100th event at the Las Vegas Apex facility, the UFC ranked the Top 100 knockout victories earned at the venue. Ngannou’s finish of Miocic, which took place under the UFC’s massive spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, was left out.
MMA fans react to the UFC’s latest attempt to omit Francis Ngannou
UFC fans around the world were up in arms at Ngannou’s UFC 260 knockout being left out of the compilation. Shortly after the video was posted to the UFC’s YouTube channel, many fans scolded the promotion on social media.
“That’s beyond petty,” one fan wrote on X.
“Purely a business decision,” another fan said.
One fan took things a step further, directly blaming White for Ngannou’s omission.
“It’s an okay knockout, not top 100 worthy though” – Dana probably.”
Ngannou’s omission continued to cause an uproar on social media with fight fans.
“Tactically made it a 100 knockout compilation and not a top 100,” one fan wrote.
“Don’t want to put any shade on Stipe so their fight looks more serious and they just hate Francis,” another fan commented.
“I get he is not in the UFC anymore, but just acting like he didn’t exist makes it worse for the ufc,” a critical fan posted.
Miocic, who Ngannou knocked out at UFC 260, will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 309 later this month against Jon Jones. It’s his first fight since the knockout defeat to Ngannou.
UFC continues to erase Francis Ngannou’s history after messy divorce
This isn’t the first time Ngannou has been conveniently left out of the UFC’s history books. Just months after Ngannou’s departure, a fight graphic tabbed Tafon Nchukwi as the UFC’s first Cameroonian fighter, which Ngannou quickly corrected on social media.
The UFC was also accused of deceptively editing a clip of Israel Adesanya paying homage to Ngannou at a press conference. At a pre-fight press conference ahead of UFC 306, Adesanya alluded to Ngannou as one of the UFC’s first African-born champions, but the UFC later posted a clip without the reference.
Ngannou made his MMA return against 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira last month. He defeated Ferreira by first-round TKO almost three full years since his last appearance in the cage.
After capturing the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 260, a superfight between Ngannou and Jones was discussed, but never came to fruition. A year later, Ngannou made his lone UFC heavyweight title defense against former teammate Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
While Ngannou is no longer a part of the UFC’s roster, he remains in the hearts and minds of many UFC fans around the world. Unfortunately, things between Ngannou and the UFC will likely get worse before they get better.
Shavkat Rakhmonov was supposed to face UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the UFC 310 headliner next month. But, those plans were foiled after Muhammad announced his withdrawal from the fight due to a bone infection in his foot.
Muhammad, who captured the title at UFC 304 over Leon Edwards, is firmly against an interim title booking at UFC 310. He’s targeting a return to physical activity in six weeks.
In the meantime, Rakhmonov wants to fight next month instead of waiting for Muhammad to be fully recovered from his ailment. In an attempt to stay on the card, Rakhmonov has a big name in mind to step up and fight him at UFC 310.
Shavkat Rakhmonov calls out Kamaru Usman for UFC 310 short-notice fight
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Rakhmonov called out Kamaru Usman for UFC 310.
“I believe there is a worthy opponent available. I’m ready to save the card, too if it’s for the interim title. I believe [Kamaru] Usman is the worthy opponent who’s also probably ready to jump in and face him,” Rakhmonov said. (h/t BJPenn)
Rakhmonov’s manager and translator then told Ariel Helwani that they’re in ongoing talks with the UFC to remain on the year’s pay-per-view finale. As of this writing, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura remains the only scheduled championship fight on the card after Muhammad’s withdrawal.
Ian Machado Garry was another name in the mix to replace Muhammad, but he’s scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa.
Kamaru Usman looks to snap three-fight skid in targeted welterweight return
Usman hasn’t fought since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 last year. He took the fight on weeks’ notice after Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from the matchup.
Usman lost the UFC welterweight title by head-kick knockout against Edwards at UFC 278. Edwards won their rematch just months later at UFC 286 in London.
Rakhmonov earned the title shot after a destructive run through the UFC welterweight division. He’s finished all 18 of his wins inside the distance, including his most recent submission against Stephen Thompson at UFC 296.
During his UFC tenure, Rakhmonov has defeated the likes of Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Alex Oliveira. Before signing with the UFC in 2020, he won the M-1 Global welterweight championship.
As of this writing, Usman hasn’t responded to Rakhmonov’s callout ahead of UFC 310. Only a few weeks ahead of the event, things will have to move quickly to re-book Rakhmonov for the year’s final pay-per-view.
