“No chance this one gets monetized” – Internet reacts to Sean Strickland seemingly appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast
It seems UFC middleweight Sean Strickland will share his infamous pearls of wisdom with Joe Rogan on the UFC commentator’s famous The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) podcast. The ever-outspoken fighter, who is notorious for his unfiltered and raw personality, recently shared a picture of him and Rogan at the 55-year-old’s podcast studio. Given ‘Tarzan’s reputation for stirring the pot, fans were unsurprisingly shocked and excited to see Strickland hinting at recording an episode with Joe Rogan. While many couldn’t wait for the episode to drop, others were worried about the podcaster getting into trouble for inviting someone as polarizing as Strickland. Popular MMA-based Twitter handle @SpinninBackfist shared the picture of Joe Rogan posing with Sean Strickland and fans made their reactions known in the post’s comments section. UFC lightweight contender Matt Frevola replied with one word, stating: “Epic.” One fan opined that the episode could get a demonetization strike and wrote: “No chance this one gets monetized.” Another fan claimed: “JRE is gonna get canceled now.” One user excitedly claimed: “I might sit through 3 hours of Joe Rogan just to listen to Strickland talk for the duration of the podcast.” One fan hilariously joked about Twitter fact-checkers getting tired, with a meme showing an exhausted restaurant worker. They wrote: “Twitter fact checkers after this episode.” Joe Rogan makes huge claim about Conor McGregor switching to bare-knuckle boxing Given his extensive involvement in the world of MMA, Joe Rogan also knows a thing or two about the fight promotion industry. The podcaster recently weighed in on UFC superstar Conor McGregor potentially making his bare-knuckle boxing debut and made an incredible pay-per-view sales prediction in case the Irishman did a bare-knuckle fight. In a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show (#141) with former UFC fighter Mike Perry, Joe Rogan discussed McGregor making a surprise appearance in the bare-knuckle ring this past April after accepting a face-off invitation from Perry following ‘Platinum’s victory over Luke Rockhold at BKFC 41. Commenting on the Irishman hinting at potentially accepting a bare-knuckle boxing fight against Mike Perry, Joe Rogan said: “If somehow or another he agreed to fight bare-knuckle, do you know how big that would be? Mike, you versus him… If they did that bare-knuckle, it would get a million pay-per-view buys at least… Probably more. Probably get two or three [million pay-per-view buys]. I was trying to be conservative.” Joe Rogan is undeniably one of the foremost authorities in the world of mixed martial arts and the 55-year-old is a regular behind the broadcasting desk at most major UFC events. Apart from being a fan-favorite UFC commentator, he also hosts his top-rated JRE podcast and regularly performs as a stand-up comic.
“I’m in some sort of dream” – Video of Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones receives mixed reactions from fans
It’s no secret that Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones shared a contentious relationship and lost no opportunity to hurl insults at each other on social media. However, Adesanya and Jones unexpectedly showed each other respect during their interviews over the past few months. To top it off, ‘The Last Stylebender’ recently sent shockwaves through the MMA community after posting a video of himself and ‘Bones’ having a jolly time together at a restaurant. The video was uploaded on Meta’s latest social media platform, ‘Threads.’ When popular MMA-based handle @TheArtOfWar6 shared the video on Twitter, fans couldn’t help but take to the comments section to express their shock and surprise. The original poster shared a screenshot of Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones embracing and wrote: “I’m in some sort of dream.” One shocked fan couldn’t believe what they saw and wrote: “Literally just woke up, had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn’t tripping.” Another fan wrote: “I’m watching it and I still don’t believe it. it’s good seeing them being cool with each other.” One user speculated about living in the meta-verse and wrote: “We’re definitely in a different timeline for real.” Another user joked about Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov making up and wrote: “Now we’ll wait for Conor and Khabib.” Check out some more reactions below: Israel Adesanya warns Alex Pereira to be careful of Jan Blachowicz ahead of Brazilian’s UFC 291 fight Israel Adesanya ran into his longtime combat sports rival Alex Pereira at an airport in Australia, and the two shared some light-hearted moments before boarding their airplanes. With Pereira set to make his light heavyweight debut against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291, Adesanya revealed that he gave the Brazilian some tips about fighting the former light heavyweight champion. Given that Blachowicz is one of two fighters ever to beat Adesanya, the Nigerian-born Kiwi has some experience sharing the octagon with the Polish fighter. Interestingly, Alex Pereira is the only other fighter to beat ‘The Last Stylebender’ in MMA. With both of his white whales set to fight each other, Israel Adesanya finally revealed what advice he gave to ‘Poatan’ during their airport run-in. In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Adesanya stated: “I think [Pereira] might knock him out… We talked for about a good two minutes or so and I gave him some advice on how to handle Jan… I warned him, “Look, just be careful because he knows your striking is really good so he’s going to be patient with you like he was with me”… He had the same idea, but I feel like if Jan doesn’t take him out, [Pereira] is going to knock him out.”
Early WWE Stars: 14-time Champion Buddy “Nature Boy” Rogers
Renowned by his ring name “Nature Boy”, Buddy Rogers emerged as one of the foremost stars during the beginning of television in the wrestling industry back in the 1940s. Not only did Rogers captivate audiences with his charismatic performances, but his influence also extended to future generations of professional wrestlers, most notably “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Rogers began his professional wrestling journey in 1939, displaying an innate talent and flair that set him apart from his peers. He developed a distinctive wrestling style characterized by a mix of technical prowess, agility, and captivating showmanship that thrilled spectators. Rogers’ ability to engage the crowd, combined with his innovative moves and powerful persona, ensured that he quickly became a fan favorite. Buddy Rogers won the WWE Championship a total of 14 times Throughout his career, Buddy Rogers engaged in a fierce rivalry with another wrestling legend, Lou Thesz. Their battles inside and outside the ring captivated audiences and elevated their status as two of the greatest competitors of their time. The clashes between Rogers and Thesz were not only physical but also marked by a heated personal animosity that added to the intensity of their encounters. Their rivalry remains one of the most memorable feuds in wrestling history. Buddy Rogers’ talent and charisma propelled him to an astounding fourteen world championship reigns, solidifying his status as one of the most decorated wrestlers of his era. Notably, he held the top championship in both the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), known today as WWE. Rogers holds the distinction of being the inaugural WWF World Heavyweight Champion, a feat that showcased his exceptional skills and widespread popularity. Buddy Rodgers’ impact on the iconic Ric Flair The impact of Buddy Rogers extends far beyond his championship reigns. His innovative wrestling style and magnetic personality left an indelible imprint on the industry. Perhaps his most notable legacy is the profound influence he had on “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.Flair adopted Rogers’ nickname, emulating his flamboyant persona, distinctive look, and even his signature finishing move, the figure-four leglock. Rogers’ influence can also be seen in other wrestling greats, such as AJ Styles, making him an inspirational figure for generations of professional wrestlers. His contributions to the industry continue to reverberate today, as his influence is evident in the wrestling styles and personas of numerous superstars. With his fourteen world championship reigns and his riveting rivalry with Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers remains an iconic figure whose impact on professional wrestling will never be forgotten.
When is UFC 290? Check out all the details here
The highly anticipated UFC 290 pay-per-view event is set to go down at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 8. The fight card will be part of the 11th edition of the promotion’s annual International Fight Week, which will take place from July 3 to July 9 in Las Vegas. This weekend’s enthralling fight card will cap the week-long MMA bonanza. The event’s main card includes two huge title fights and several pivotal matchups between fighters who always guarantee fireworks. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will look to defend his title against interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in a title unification bout in the headliner of the UFC 290 event. In the co-main event, flyweight king Brandon Moreno will face Alexandre Pantoja in the second title fight of the card. The main card also features a middleweight barnburner between former champion Robert Whittaker and surging contender Dricus du Plessis. Elsewhere on the card, lightweights Dan Hooker and Jalin Turner will go head-to-head with middleweight prospect Bo Nickal facing Val Woodburn. American fans can catch the fights live on ESPN+ pay-per-view, while Indian fans can tune into Sony TEN 1/TEN 2/TEN 3 or Sony Live at 7.30 am IST. Alexander Volkanovski downplays Dricus du Plessis’s chances against Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 Alexander Volkanovski recently weighed in on the highly anticipated Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis middleweight fight at UFC 290. The UFC featherweight champion doesn’t think that the South African sensation stands a chance against the former middleweight champion. Whittaker and du Plessis will fight at UFC 290 this weekend in a pivotal title eliminator. The winner of this bout is highly expected to challenge Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title next. While the Nigerian-born Kiwi has publicly stated that he’s pushing for ‘Stillknocks’ to win due to his personal grudge against the South African, many fans have lobbied for an Adesanya vs. Whittaker trilogy fight. In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Alexander Volkanovski explained why the middleweight champion probably won’t get his wish of facing Dricus du Plessis granted. He stated: “Look man, obviously Izzy wants new blood. He definitely would like to see Dricus go out there (and win) so that he could fight him… But beating Robert Whittaker is not going to be easy for him… Robert Whittaker is just too well rounded, he’s too good everywhere, and his skill set is gonna be too much. I think you’d be mad to think that Dricus can get it done.“
Dan Hooker on UFC 290 bout against Jalin Turner – “I can’t see the judges getting involved in this one”
Dan Hooker recently donned his soothsaying hat and claimed that he doesn’t see the result of his next fight against Jalin Turner being decided by the judges. ‘The Hangman’ is set to go up against ‘The Tarantula’ in a lightweight contest at UFC 290 this weekend. Considering their explosive fighting styles and propensity to aim for knockouts, Dan Hooker recently claimed that he believes the fight will end with a finish. In a recent interview with ‘The Schmo,’ Hooker was asked for his thoughts on Jalin Turner and his upcoming fight, to which he replied: “Yeah, he’s a good fighter. Very dangerous. Lot of knockouts on his record, and a lot of knockouts on my record. I can’t see the judges getting involved in this one over the fifteen minutes. I’m ready for both, we go out there and get in a gunslinging match, or it’s a technical fight for the full fifteen minutes. I’m prepared for both.” While Hooker was initially booked to fight Turner at UFC 285 in March, the New Zealander suffered an unfortunate hand injury and was forced to withdraw from the bout. The 33-year-old is coming off an impressive TKO win over Claudio Puelles at UFC 281, whereas Turner will be looking to redeem a loss against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 285. Dan Hooker on Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje for the ‘BMF’ title Dan Hooker recently weighed in on the highly anticipated Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje fight for the ‘BMF’ (Baddest Motherf**ker) title at UFC 291, and it’s safe to say that ‘The Hangman’ is not a fan of this matchup having the symbolic title on the line. The BMF title was originally meant to be a unique one-off belt awarded to the winner of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz at UFC 244. After Masvidal won the belt, he held on to it for the remainder of his career and vacated the title after announcing his retirement at UFC 287 in April. With the BMF title now vacant, the promotion decided to find it a new home and matched up two of the lightweight division’s hardest-hitting strikers. However, Dan Hooker believes that while a fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje is undoubtedly exciting, the bout being called a BMF title fight dampens its significance. In a recent video uploaded to Israel Adesanya’s YouTube channel, the 33-year-old Kiwi weighed in on the headliner of UFC 291 and said: “It’s a little bit of a silly fight, you know what I mean? We’re prizefighters at the end of the day… What does it actually mean though?… Of course, I’d take it because there’s money that comes with it, which is the main objective of doing it. But having a BMF title and hanging that on my wall and being proud of that is not the same as a world title.”
Conor McGregor mocks Michael Chandler in audio clip following latest TUF episode release
Conor McGregor certainly lives up to his ‘Notorious’ moniker. The Irishman recently trolled Michael Chandler on social media after the two men were shown getting into an ugly scrap in the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). The sixth episode of TUF 31 aired on Tuesday and featured an exciting matchup between McGregor’s SBG Ireland teammate Lee Hammond and UFC veteran Kurt Holobaugh which ended in a climactic fashion. While Hammond dominated Holobaugh for most of the fight, the UFC veteran pulled off a surprising second-round submission to hand the Irishman’s team of prospects their sixth straight loss. In the aftermath, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler got in each other’s face, during which a charged-up ‘Iron’ repeatedly asked ‘The Notorious’ if he wanted to fight right there. After the episode dropped, clips of their altercation went viral. Conor McGregor used the opportunity to get his insults in and tweeted an audio clip of him mockingly imitating Chandler’s voice and tone. He said: “Oh, we’re going to do this? We’re going to fight right now?” Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in the face during TUF 31 altercation There is no love lost between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. As mentioned above, tempers ran high after the Irishman’s team went 0-6 against Chandler’s team, and the two coaches got into a nasty scrap as a result. While trash-talking is undoubtedly McGregor’s forte, it seems Chandler’s words got under his skin this time. During their altercation, ‘Iron’ criticized the former two-division champion’s absence at various crucial points throughout the show’s filming. The Irishman responded by hurling insults at Chandler’s last promotion, Bellator. As the two traded vicious verbal shots, they came face-to-face until their foreheads touched. Conor McGregor immediately shoved Michael Chandler violently in the face with both hands which caused ‘Iron’ to stumble backward. Just as it looked like the two coaches were about to settle their differences earlier than planned, UFC president Dana White rushed inside the octagon and managed to separate them. Conor McGregor’s team is yet to win a fight in this installment of TUF, mounting frustrations for the Irishman’s coaching staff and team of four bantamweight and four lightweight prospects. The next episode of TUF 31 will air next Tuesday on ESPN and will feature the second-to-last quarterfinal bout. The live finale bouts are expected to take place at the UFC 292 pay-per-view event on August 19.
“We’re fighting the No.1 contender in the division” – Kelvin Gastelum on accepting the Shavkat Ramonov fight
Kelvin Gastelum is gearing up for a move to the welterweight division after a lengthy stint at middleweight. In September, the former TUF winner and interim title challenger will square off against unbeaten Kazakh phenom Shavkat Rakhmonov. Gastelum sees Rakhmonov as the No.1 contender in the 170-pound division. ‘Nomad’ has never tasted defeat in his professional career and boasts a 100% finish rate. Wins over Neil Magny and Geoff Neal vaulted Rakhmonov up to the No.6 spot in the welterweight rankings, and Gastelum will break into the top tier of the division if he comes out on top. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Gastelum said: “I’m dropping down to 170 [pounds]. I’m going all in. We’re fighting, in my opinion, the No.1 contender in the welterweight division. He’s undefeated. All finishes. 17-0. But at the same time, I feel like all my stars are aligning.” Catch Kevin Gastelum’s comments below (3:36): Kelvin Gastelum and Shavkat Rakhmonov will collide in the co-main event of the UFC’s Fight Night Show slated for September 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between former flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko and current champion Alexa Grasso. The victor of the Rakhmonov vs. Gastelum will be in a strong position concerning the UFC welterweight title. Reigning champion Leon Edwards is expected to take on Colby Covington later this year, but no official announcement has been made. Moreover, top-ranked contender Belal Muhammad has been promised the next title shot after his win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288. Kelvin Gastelum’s UFC career so far Kelvin Gastelum broke onto the scene as a participant in season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter. He held a 5-0 record at the time and advanced his record to 6-0 with his decision win over Uriah Hall in the season finale, earning a UFC contract. Gastelum enjoyed a strong start to his UFC career, winning his first four fights against Brian Melancon, Rick Story, Nico Museke and Jake Ellenberger. He then suffered the first loss of his professional career, losing via split decision to Tyron Woodley. After numerous weight misses in his early UFC run, Gastelum then moved up to the middleweight division. Kelvin Gastelum went on to pick up wins over the likes of Nate Marquardt, Johny Hendricks and Tim Kennedy over the next three years. Back-to-back wins over Michael Bisping and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza saw Gastelum earn his shot at UFC gold. He squared off against Israel Adesanya at UFC 236, with the interim middleweight championship on the line. Gastelum pushed Adesanya to the absolute limit but ultimately came up short on the judges’ scorecards. He endured a disappointing run of form after that, going 1-4 in his next five fights, losing to Darren Till, Jack Hermansson, Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier. He returned to winning ways at UFC 287 earlier this year, edging a decision win over Chris Curtis.
Conor McGregor invokes “The most high God” in bizarre Twitter post after confirming he is preparing for Michael Chandler bout
Conor McGregor had a busy day on social media and recently took to Twitter to invoke a higher power to help him against his enemies. While the Irishman is widely known for his polarizing and unfiltered tirades on social media, he seemed to take a more sectarian path this time. ‘The Notorious’ reacted to a tweet with a picture of him catching Donald Cerrone with a tremendous flying knee during their fight at UFC 246 and quote tweeted the post, saying: “By the power vested in me by the Most High God, I decree anything contrary to my well-being, God will collide with it in Jesus Name.” Interestingly, Conor McGregor also shared an exciting update with his fans regarding his comeback plans. After being sidelined for over two years due to the leg fracture he suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, the Irishman is expected to face Michael Chandler in his long-awaited return to the octagon later this year. Soon after his bizarre Twitter post invoking God, McGregor posted another Tweet potentially confirming that he has booked a fight and is preparing for the same. He wrote: “I look forward to my upcoming fight. I am well in preparation.” Conor McGregor shares the strategy he plans on using to knock Michael Chandler out Despite his extended layoff from active competition, Conor McGregor is confident about securing a statement knockout victory over Michael Chandler. Ahead of his highly anticipated comeback, McGregor has been roped in as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 31 opposite Michael Chandler, following which the pair will face off in the octagon. This will mark the Irishman’s second stint as a coach on the UFC’s popular reality show, having previously won it against Uriah Faber in 2015. In a recent episode of TUF 31, Conor McGregor discussed his next fight and revealed how he plans to beat Chandler using his striking skills. He said: “That’s what I’m gonna do to Chandler. And I told him that. I’m going to pin you, I’m going to pin you and rifle you down to the mat. He just falls apart after a few scrambles and that I’m going to have him pinned and literally rifle [the punches] down. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.” Conor McGregor is currently on a two-fight losing streak and last tasted victory against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020. He has gone 3-2 in his last five outings and will be looking to make a statement against Michael Chandler whenever they face each other.
“I was so f**king offended” – Dan Hooker on hearing his management asked UFC for Tony Ferguson fight
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker recently claimed that his management ticked him off when they approached the UFC for a Tony Ferguson fight. The New Zealander also explained the reason behind his annoyance and outlined how he has his sights firmly set on facing top contenders at this point in his career. Ferguson is arguably one of the UFC’s most well-known lightweight fighters, and many fans fondly remember ‘El Cucuy’s incredible 12-fight win streak that began in October 2013 and ended in May 2020. However, Ferguson has hit a slump over the past few years and hasn’t recouped. He is currently on a five-fight losing slide, with fans urging the 39-year-old to call it a career. In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dan Hooker cited Tony Ferguson’s proximity to retirement and explained why being offered ‘El Cucuy’ as an opponent was unacceptable to him. He recalled a conversation with his manager and said: “My manager asked, “What about this guy?” Like a top contender. I was like, “I’ll miss his a**. What about this guy?” He replied, “Oh, they asked for Tony Ferguson… I was so f**king offended… That sparked me… That’s not what I want to be. That’s not what I’m here for. I’m here to be the best. To challenge myself against the best guys in the world.” Meanwhile, Dan Hooker is set to face Jalin Turner in a lightweight contest at UFC 290 on July 8. ‘The Hangman’ is coming off a second-round TKO win over Claudio Puelles at UFC 281, which snapped his two-fight losing slide. He is currently 2-3 in his last five outings. Dan Hooker outlines what Jalin Turner fight at UFC 290 means to him Ahead of his next assignment against Jalin Turner at UFC 290, Dan Hooker took a moment to reflect on his career and how important his next fight was. After losing back-to-back fights against Islam Makhachev and Arnold Allen, Hooker put on an incredible performance against Claudio Puelles to get back in the win column. Having gone 2-3 in his last five outings, ‘The Hangman’ is desperately looking for a statement win on July 8 to get back into the lightweight division’s top-contender conversation. In a recent interview on his City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya’s YouTube channel, Dan Hooker discussed what the Jalin Turner fight meant to him and his thoughts on ‘The Tarantula’ as a fighter. He said: “I feel like this fight is a true tipping point. I’ve got a bit of a chip… It’s time to go in there and prove I belong with the best guys. That’s this fight for me. It’s to go out and prove that I have the potential to win a world title… And Jalin Turner is one of the best. I want to fight him because he’s one of the very best fighters… That makes me excited.”
Bo Nickal reportedly searching for new opponent for UFC 290 as Tresean Gore suffers injury
The main card for this weekend’s UFC 290 pay-per-view event has suffered a significant setback. While the event was set to feature a highly anticipated welterweight bout between grappling phenom Bo Nickal and Tresean Gore, the UFC is now desperate to find ‘The Allen Assassin’ another opponent after Gore was forced to pull out of the bout due to injury. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently took to Twitter to announce the news and stated that the UFC is actively working to keep Nickal on the blockbuster International Fight Week card by searching for a new opponent for him. Helwani wrote: “Bo Nickal is in need of a new opponent for this weekend’s UFC 290 card, sources say. His opponent Tresean Gore is out due to injury. UFC is working on keeping Nickal on the card, I’m told. Hoping to finalize a new bout today.” Bo Nickal is currently undefeated as a professional mixed martial artist and has a perfect record of 4-0. The three-time NCAA Division 1 champion last faced Jamie Pickett at UFC 285 and secured an incredible first-round submission via an arm triangle choke. Meanwhile, Gore currently has a less-than-impressive promotional record of 1-2 but the 28-year-old last beat Josh Fremd via an impressive second-round submission at UFC Fight Night 213. What other changes has UFC 290 undergone? Bo Nickal vs. Tresean Gore isn’t the only matchup that has been scrapped from the UFC 290 lineup. Last week, another highly anticipated welterweight bout between top-ranked fighters Jack Della Maddalena and Sean Brady was canceled after Brady was forced to pull out due to a Staph infection. While UFC veteran Kevin Holland initially offered to take the fight against Della Maddalena at UFC 290 on short notice, the promotion decided to give the opportunity to newcomer Josiah Harrell instead. The 24-year-old debutant is an undefeated prospect with a professional record of 7-0, all of his wins coming by way of a finish. Harrell recently went viral after clips of him slamming his last opponent Mike Roberts through the octagon door spread on social media. With his incredible power, ‘Muscle Hamster’ shot a well-time double-legged takedown that sent Roberts crashing out of the octagon. UFC 290 is set to go down on July 8, during the UFC’s International Fight Week, and is set to be headlined by a featherweight title bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez, while the co-main event will feature Brandon Moreno defending his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja.