UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas likes her chances if she were to eventually make the transition from MMA to boxing.
Namajunas is set to make her first title defense in her second stint as strawweight queen against Zhang Weili at UFC 268. Na…
UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas likes her chances if she were to eventually make the transition from MMA to boxing.
Namajunas is set to make her first title defense in her second stint as strawweight queen against Zhang Weili at UFC 268. Namajunas earned the belt over Weili with one of the most stunning knockouts of 2021, landing a brutal first-round head kick at UFC 261.
In the age of some MMA fighters turning their focus towards lucrative boxing matches, Namajunas feels her striking could result in some success down the line. During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Namajunas hinted at a future move to the ‘sweet science’.
“If the money was there, that’d be cool,” Namajunas said. “We could try it out. But I love MMA, though. I’m so in love with grappling, with wrestling, the clinch, and kicking, all of it, mixing it up together. So I feel like if I were to do boxing, that would have to be probably a money move, I would say. But I love MMA.”
Rose Namajunas Is Open To Eventually Trying Out Boxing
Namajunas’ kickboxing skillset is arguably one of the most technical in the young history of the UFC strawweight division. She’s earned vicious knockouts over former champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jéssica Andrade during her illustrious career.
Namajunas’ comments come amidst the ongoing crossover between MMA and boxing, which is becoming more common over time. UFC legends such as Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort have found success in boxing during the later parts of their careers.
But Namajunas is still in the prime of her MMA career and many believe could be a top UFC strawweight for years to come. If she’s able to earn another dominant win over Weili, her stock could rise even further amongst the UFC fanbase.
How do you think Rose Namajunas would do in boxing?
If Michael Chandler wants to take Justin Gaethje down, Gaethje thinks that may be to his detriment at UFC 268.
Gaethje and Chandler are set to square off on the main card of UFC 268, in a three-round fight with a lot at stake in the lightweight div…
If Michael Chandler wants to take Justin Gaethje down, Gaethje thinks that may be to his detriment at UFC 268.
Gaethje and Chandler are set to square off on the main card of UFC 268, in a three-round fight with a lot at stake in the lightweight division. The winner of the bout could get the next title shot against either Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier.
The matchup figures to be one of the most exciting fights of the year, but Gaethje is prepared for Chandler to attempt to take the easy way out during their bout. Both Gaethje and Chandler are vicious strikers, but also possess solid wrestling, which Gaethje is expecting Chandler to lean on early and often.
Justin Gaethje Expects A Wrestling Approach From Michael Chandler
During a recent sit down on UFC Unfiltered, Gaethje spoke about Chandler’s earlier comments about who may take the first step back in the Octagon.
“You know, he says the first one to take a step back is a timid soul,” Gaethje said. “There’s not one thing he can say that’s gonna affect the way that I approach this fight. I will take a step backward; he can shove it up his a**.
“Where you’re gonna see a timid soul is when I start kicking him and then he’s gonna start shooting for legs and trying to wrestle. And that’ll be his definition of a bitch, 100%. And that’s what we’ll see, I believe. I think that’s what we’ll see midway through the first round.”
Gaethje and Chandler are both looking for another shot at UFC gold after each lost title bouts in their previous outings. Gaethje fell to Khabib Nurmagomedov for the unified lightweight title at UFC 254, while Chandler lost to Oliveira for the vacant title earlier this year at UFC 262.
After rising lightweight contender Islam Makhachev earned another dominant win at UFC 267 over Dan Hooker, the pressure is now on Gaethje and Chandler to put on an equally eye-opening performance. UFC fans may expect major fireworks and a main event type of atmosphere for this matchup.
What is your prediction for Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 268?
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes fellow former title challenger Justin Gaethje had the same treatment from the UFC as he has in his 12 months with the promotion.
Chandler, a former three-time Bellator champion, arrived in the UFC…
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler believes fellow former title challenger Justin Gaethje had the same treatment from the UFC as he has in his 12 months with the promotion.
Chandler, a former three-time Bellator champion, arrived in the UFC last year. After serving as backup for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final appearance at UFC 254, “Iron” made his long-awaited promotional debut at UFC 257 in January. In a tough first assignment, Chandler was matched up with the always-tough and entertaining Dan Hooker. In perhaps the most impressive and emphatic debut performances in UFC history, the 35-year-old finished “The Hangman” inside the first round.
After Khabib vacated the 155-pound belt, Chandler found himself fighting for gold in just his second Octagon outing. He faced UFC veteran Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 in May. Despite coming inches away from capturing gold in the opening frame, Chandler was finished on the feet in the second round.
While “Do Bronx” gets set for his first title defense against Dustin Poirier, Chandler will be looking to secure his status as number one contender with an impressive performance this weekend against Justin Gaethje. The pair will meet on the main card of a stacked UFC 268 event inside Madison Square Garden.
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Chandler Draws Parallels Between His & Gaethje’s UFC Treatment
Like Chandler, Gaethje’s last appearance saw him fall short of the lightweight mountaintop. “The Highlight” was the final man to challenge the dominance of Khabib. The former interim champion has been without an opponent since his submission loss to the Dagestani last year.
Gaethje has made it public knowledge that he was, and still is, unhappy that he wasn’t selected to fight for the vacant belt at UFC 262. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler suggested his own inclusion in the May pay-per-view’s main event is the root of a legitimate dislike that his upcoming opponent holds for him.
“There is also some legitimacy to, I think, why he doesn’t like me. I will sit here and admit, when ever there was a pool, whenever Khabib retired and there was a pool of all of us, Justin Gaethje might have deserved to fight for the title more than me, more than Charles Oliveira, so I think there’s some resentment there, which is completely fine, completely warranted. I would have thought the exact same thing.”
Discussing his entry into the UFC, Chandler said he asked for the best guys in the weight class in order to test himself and see if he was as good as he thought. He admitted that attitude brought him opportunities that upset people, including Gaethje.
“I have come into the UFC and made a splash. I didn’t ask for a splash, I came in and just said, ‘Hey, I want a top guy right away so I can either go ahead and get knocked out and end this career and I wasn’t as good as I thought I was, or maybe I am that good.’ That’s all I wanted to do… I’ve gotten some opportunities and I think that’s rubbed some people the wrong way. I think that’s rubbed Justin Gaethje the wrong way.”
Despite that, Chandler believes his scenario is very similar to Gaethje’s when he first joined the UFC. Suggesting the pair have experienced the same level of “Dana White privilege,” Chandler cited Gaethje’s clash with Eddie Alvarez and the host of opportunities “The Highlight” has had in the promotion as the reasons his foe shouldn’t look down on the #4-ranked contender’s fortunes.
“I believe Justin Gaethje got the same amount of ‘preferential’ treatment, the same of ‘Dana White privilege’, the same amount of what ever you wanna call it. He came from outside the UFC, came in, got a top-five guy right away. If he would’ve beat Eddie Alvarez, he would have got a title shot. But he lost to Eddie Alvarez, which made him go fight another couple fights. He’s been in some big commercials, he’s been in big fights, he’s headlined cards. He and I have had very similar roads. I think he deserved it because he earned it. He probably, in his heart of hearts, really truly believes that I have deserved it and earned it. But he needs to convince himself that I am seeking attention… or that I’m a fake and a phony.”
At UFC 268 this Saturday, Michael Chandler will look to prove his place in the lightweight top five is down to his own abilities, rather than favor from the UFC brass.
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 268, Michael Chandler or Justin Gaethje?
Michael Chandler has revealed how he’d like his fight with Justin Gaethje to pan out when the duo meet at UFC 268 on November 6.
Chandler and Gaethje will be looking to rebound back into the win column after both men failed to clinch UFC gold in th…
Michael Chandler has revealed how he’d like his fight with Justin Gaethje to pan out when the duo meet at UFC 268 on November 6.
Chandler and Gaethje will be looking to rebound back into the win column after both men failed to clinch UFC gold in their most recent outings. Gaethje hasn’t fought in over a year since playing a reluctant supporting act in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC swansong. Chandler, meanwhile, has fought twice in that time, earning a first-round TKO of Dan Hooker in January before being TKO’d himself by Charles Oliveira in their battle for the vacant lightweight title in May.
With lightweight champ Oliveira set to make his first title defense against Dustin Poirier on December 12, #4 ranked Chandler and #2 Gaethje will be fighting for a likely title shot during their Madison Square Garden showdown on November 6. There are, however, other likely contenders. Islam Makhachev, if he triumphs over Dan Hooker at UFC 267, could get the nod. And there’s also #3-ranked Beneil Dariush waiting in the wings.
Chandler Pays Respect To Gaethje, Reveals Ideal Win Scenario
Despite the mutual dislike, Chandler has recently paid respect to the formidable challenge which Gaethje poses, telling The MMA Hour that he’s preparing for the hardest fight of his life.
“I think you always prepare for a long, drawn-out war,” Chandler said in an (h/t MMA FIGHTING). “I think you always prepare for a guy that you just can’t finish, a guy that just continues to come forward with everything you hit him with — and Justin Gaethje is that. You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think that Justin Gaethje is not just violent and not just skilled, but man, the dude has cardio and heart in droves. So I’m preparing for 15 hard, hard minutes. The hardest fight of my life.”
Michael Chandler, Image Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Gaethje has said that his game plan against Chandler will be to “break this dude as fast as possible, as violently as possible.” And Chandler, despite preparing for a 15-minute war, is harboring similar intentions, revealing that his ideal win scenario is a quick KO.
“But I think best-case scenario I land one pretty darn hard on his temple or his chin and put him out,” said Chandler. “But that’s what every fighter wants. You want the knockout and you want the quick, easy paycheck, of course, but you’ve got to be ready for that 15-minute war. And if I had to guess, I think if there’s a finish it’s happening later on, second or third round, because I think both of us are just not going to get hit with anything too crazy clean in order to get finished. But that’s what I’m preparing for. We’ll see.”
What do you think? Will Michael Chandler make quick work of Justin Gaethje?
Colby Covington understands the stakes of his UFC 268 welterweight title rematch with Kamaru Usman.
Covington has called for another shot at Usman since just hours after they first fought at UFC 245. Usman earned the victory in a five-round slugfes…
Colby Covington understands the stakes of his UFC 268 welterweight title rematch with Kamaru Usman.
Covington has called for another shot at Usman since just hours after they first fought at UFC 245. Usman earned the victory in a five-round slugfest with a late TKO with just minutes left in the fight.
But Covington feels prepared ahead of their title rematch at UFC 268, in one of the most highly-anticipated fights of 2021. Covington gave Usman what was easily his toughest challenge in the octagon to date, and fans have wanted to see the two top 170 pounders run it back.
During a recent interview with Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, Covington explained why a trilogy needs to happen right away if he pulls off the win over Usman this time around.
Colby Covington Seeks Revenge In Kamaru Usman Rematch
“I’m not gonna be a coward like [Usman] and run from this rematch,” Covington said. “He should have fought me and rematched me right away. The first time we fought, there was unfinished business. The people, the fans, saw for themselves how close that fight was, and that fight needed to be run back right away. But he refused it.”
“It’s going to be a life-changing defeat. He’s not gonna be wanting to come back for the trilogy.”
Covington has only fought once since the first Usman bout, earning a dominant TKO win over former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC Vegas 11. He was rumored to be in the running to fight former teammate and friend Jorge Masvidal, but contract negotiations never materalized.
Usman has looked nearly unstoppable by many during the same period, earning a knockout win over Gilbert Burns and back-to-back title defenses against Jorge Masvidal. Many believe Usman is firmly in the conversation amongst the great UFC welterweight champions in history.
There is no love lost between these two top UFC welterweights, and their rematch could be even better than their first battle in the Octagon.
What is your prediction for Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington 2 at UFC 268?
The buildup to UFC 268’s main event rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington is in full swing, and Covington has big plans as he seeks revenge and the UFC welterweight title. Covington has waited for another shot at Usman for quite some time, as Usman has defeated Jorge Masvidal twice along with a knockout […]
The buildup to UFC 268’s main event rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington is in full swing, and Covington has big plans as he seeks revenge and the UFC welterweight title.
Covington has waited for another shot at Usman for quite some time, as Usman has defeated Jorge Masvidal twice along with a knockout win over Gilbert Burns. Covington hasn’t fought since he finished Tyron Woodley last Fall.
Covington and Usman have one of the deeply personal rivalries in the history of the UFC, and certainly the most heated in the welterweight division. The buildup to their fight, including the upcoming pre-fight press conference, is sure to be entertaining once again.
During the opening episode of the UFC 268 Embedded series, Covington was blunt regarding his prediction for his rematch with Usman.
Colby Covington lost to Kamaru Usman in their first matchup at UFC 245
“What’s driving me is revenge,” Covington said. “He doesn’t want to be here. If it wasn’t for the UFC forcing his hand telling him ‘hey if you don’t fight Colby we’ll strip you and move on,’ he wouldn’t be here. He was looking for any way to avoid fighting me. It’s a great feeling for this to be in New York City.”
“They say the city never sleeps but hopefully, they’ll make an exception Saturday night because I’m putting Marty to sleep in Madison Square Garden,” Covington continued.
Usman vs. Covington 2 figures to be one of the best fights of the year, nearly two years after their first matchup that was a back and forth war. Both wrestlers by nature put on a kickboxing matchup in one of the best fights in recent memory.
While the two of them may have some form of mutual respect as competitors, it’s obvious that the two of them aren’t the best of friends. Expect fireworks in New York City.
What is your prediction for Colby Covington vs. Kamaru Usman 2 at UFC 268?
The buildup to UFC 268’s main event rematch between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington is in full swing, and Covington has big plans as he seeks revenge and the UFC welterweight title. Covington has waited for another shot at Usman for quite some time, as Usman has defeated Jorge Masvidal twice along with a knockout […]