Welcome to the third edition of the This MMA Life Newsletter!
2020 was a interesting year for MMA so let's round up the news that closed out the year.
Zuffa Boxing
Dana White updated the MMA and boxing world on his plans to enter the boxing business. We think that Dana is so consumed with getting UFC through COVID and making Fight Island a success that boxing won't be getting much of his attention anytime soon. Mr White said:
“Never did I say that I was doing anything, but I’ve been looking and kicking the tires of boxing for the last couple of years,” White said. “The reason you’ve never seen me do anything is because that’s how screwed up and broken it is. That’s what a mess it is. Yeah, I’m not doing anything anytime soon.”
Dana White also uses the current situation of famous YouTuber's like Logan and Jake Paul as primary examples of the mess that boxing is in.
We were really looking forward to seeing what Dana could do with a boxing league, let's hope it gets his attention again in the future.
Conor McGregor
Conor is probably the biggest click bait draw in the whole of combat sports, it has calmed down somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic but nearly everything out there is negative. There was a welcomed change in the narative a few weeks ago where Conor saved one of his local MMA gyms from going under.
Read more from a post by the gym itself.
Yoel Romero signs with Bellator and is probably going to fight Anthony Johnson.
Dana White stated that is was because Yoel had a losing streak and was 43 at the time of his release, call me pessimistic but I feel that he was let go due to his attitude and approach during Israel Adesanya vs Yoel Romero at UFC 248.
Global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo
Gave the sport of MMA a real boost when he publicly announced that he prefers to watch MMA, specifically the UFC above all other sports. Ronaldo has been pictured handing out with some of the biggest starts of the UFC.
Maycee Barber
We are big fans of Maycee Barber here a This MMA Life. The young slugger has really made an impact in the world of mixed martial arts and has been itching to get back on track after her loss to Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246 where she tore her ACL.
During her rehab process, Barber also switched camps as she left Roufusport to go to Chicago. In the windy city, she is training with Mike Valle and Izzy Martinez which she says is a much better fit for her.
Maycee Barber is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 258 against rising prospect, Alexa Grasso.
“There is time to prove everyone wrong. I don’t feel like there is a lot of pressure on me from the outside world but I have put a lot of pressure on myself. This is one of the biggest fights of my career. Every fight is important and every fight is the biggest fight of my life when it is going to happen. A comeback from an injury and a comeback from a loss is huge. Those two put together I’m taking it 100 percent, everything I got. This is an important fight for me and I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself,”
Really looking forward to seeing Maycee in action again, we think she will get the win and brawl her way back into 2021.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Was named World Sport Star Of 2020! Being British and knowing how small MMA is in the UK in comparison to the US we really do recognise what a significant achievement this is for Nurmagomedov and MMA as a whole.
BBC Sport@bbcsport
🌟 13 consecutive UFC lightweight wins
🌟 29-0 fight record
🌟 932 days as reigning UFC lightweight champion
@TeamKhabib has been voted World Sport Star at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020 #SPOTY22:40 PM - 17 Dec 2020
Miesha Tate
Has teased a comeback, but not full MMA - the UFC still own her fight contract.
After a brief period of living over in Singapore where ONE is based as one of their VP's, Miesha Tate recently came back home to Washington state for the holidays. As she gets to spend some time with her family, Miesha is then planning to relocate to Las Vegas where she spent the majority of her fighting career.
“If I wanted to fight, which I’m not, I wouldn’t be able to fight anywhere else [but the UFC], so you wouldn’t see me pop up and fight for ONE Championship or anybody else because obviously, I can’t legally do that. I would like to grapple. And you know, Cyborg did call me out for a grappling match. That would excite me."
“It would be amazing. I think if we want to make it happen we definitely have to figure out the legalities of it. Because my fight contract is owned by the UFC, right? She fights for Bellator, and I work for and represent ONE Championship.”
The UFC is targeting Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2 for March 2021 with the winner expected to fight Jon Jones this summer
What an exciting 2021 it might turn out to be, especially if this one goes ahead.
From Ariel Helwani:
“The UFC wants Stipe Miocic to defend the heavyweight title against Francis Ngannou in March. The title fight isn’t a done deal yet, but that is definitely what the promotion wants, I’m told. In a perfect world, the UFC would like for the winner of that fight to defend the belt against Jones in the summer, sources say”.
Conor McGregor vs Cowboy recognised as the highest-selling PPV of 2020
Although not huge numbers in the context of a Conor McGregor PPV, Conor again it the number one spot in terms of PPV numbers which is the no 1 metric for super stardom in combat sports.
Conor McGregor@thenotoriousmmaCongrats to the @ufc on a well fought 2020! The only sporting company on the planet to come through the entire year! Incredible!
I am honoured to secure their highest PPV of the year with McGregor Vs Cerrone.
Congrats Donald, and also on his double submission win last night. #No121:25 PM - 21 Dec 2020
The 12th Annual MMA Awards took place
Here are the winners:
- Male Fighter of the Year: Israel Adesanya
- International Fighter of the Year: Israel Adesanya
- Female Fighter of the Year: Amanda Nunes
- Upset of the Year: Alexander Volkanovski defeats Max Holloway
- Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Jorge Masvidal
- KO of the Year: Jorge Masvidal KOs Ben Askren
- Submission of the Year: Demian Maia submits Ben Askren
- Fight of the Year: Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
- Comeback of the Year: Stipe Miocic defeats Daniel Cormier
- Media Source of the Year: ESPN
- MMA Journalist of the Year: Ariel Helwani
- Referee of the Year: Herb Dean
- MMA Personality of the Year: Joe Rogan
- Best MMA Programming of the Year: The Joe Rogan Experience
- Coach of the Year: Trevor Wittman
- Trainer of the Year: Phil Daru
- Gym of the Year: American Top Team
- Fighting Spirit of the Year: Dustin Poirier for his Good Fight Foundation
- Leading Man of the Year: Dana White
- Promotion of the Year: UFC
We would have liked to see MMA Personality of the Year go to The Schmo though. Maybe next year.
Michael Chandler vs Dan Hooker agreed to for UFC 257
Finally we get to see Chandler perform in the UFC, we can't wait, the way Chandler has played the rest of the roaster since joining has been spectacular. Finally we will get to see him fight one of the toughest lightweight contenders in Dan Hooker which we think is a way harder fight that Ferguson.
They will be fighting at UFC 257, on the Conor McGregor v Dustin Poirier PPV.
Champ Champ
We have another champ champ bout coming up! The fight will go down in March when reigning UFC light heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz puts his belt on the line against middleweight king Israel Adesanya, who looks for a second strap!
Really looking forward to this one!
Nick Diaz
Dana White was recently asked by The Schmo about the current situation with Nick Diaz and whether or not we are going to see him the Octagon anytime soon. The response wasn't what Nick Diaz fans wanted to hear, it sounds like Dana would prefer to see him retired and enjoying his money than training and back in the game, you can tell there is huge respect for the Diaz army and Dana wouldn't stop a comeback, he just seemed ambivalent to it.
However that doesn't stop the Diaz brothers from releasing footage of Nick training for a potential comeback:
Amanda Nunes vs Megan Anderson title fight rebooked for UFC 259
We were so excited to hear that Megan would finally be getting a title shot, she is such a legend for sharing her personal experience with mental health, she is also hilarious on the UFC fightpass watch party.
Location TBC
Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal
We are still waiting for confirmation for Covington v Masvidal, if you believe the rumour mill, it's Masvidal that is stalling. However, we think Masvidal believes that this is a backwards step as he thinks a rematch with Usman should be next as he agreed to such a short notice bout.
Let's hope this gets confirmed as soon as possible, again 2021 is looking to be a great year for super fights.
Here are some of the best posts from the This MMA Life community over the past few months.
How to kick higher:
Article No Longer Available
How to cut weight:
Georges St-Pierre's pre-fight ritual for de-stress and anxiety
Introducing MMA Events:
See all the next MMA fights in one place
A beginners guide to the PFL
A beginners guide to the PFL (Professional Fighters League)
Jaynie Ramirez ・ Dec 13 '20 ・ 4 min read
Bellator v Cage Warriors
Here are the best MMA podcast episodes over the past few months
Ep. 471: Bruce Buffer Discusses Mayweather v. Logan Paul, UFC 256 Discussion
It's Time! w Bruce Buffer
That's it. Happy training!
The This MMA Life team.
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