Marvin Vettori says he is the next in line for Israel Adesanya, Sean O'Malley wants a Dominick Cruz fight, UFC Vegas 23 fallout — all this and more on Saturday's Fightful Fix roundup.
Marvin Vettori insists he is next for Israel Adesanya
Marvin Vettori sees nothing else in his future other than a UFC middleweight title.
Following his win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vegas 23, Vettori told the media he deserves the text title shot and that top contender Robert Whittaker isn't hungry for it.
“Listen, I’m not too happy with what I did in there,” Vettori said during his post-fight interview (h/t MMA Fighting). “I wanted to finish this guy and I wasn’t able to but it was a dominant win. I’m not the happiest right now but I keep winning, I keep progressing and I do it dominantly."
“I want Adesanya next. October, I want to fight him. I think I deserve it. I have the longest win streak right now. I put on winning performances. Dominant performances," he concluded. "I want this title.”
Kevin Holland says "Derek Brunson vs. Vettori next, since you both hump so well"
Kevin Holland is not amused by Marvin Vettori's fight style.
Holland addresses his unanimous decision loss to Vettori at UFC Vegas 23.
“Darren Till, sorry I didn't get the job done. [I've] been a fan of your style and spirit awhile so it’s always an honor to step up if you're down. Hope that doesn’t sound weird. Also, wish you [a] speedy recovery," Holland wrote on Instagram. "Derek Brunson vs Marvin Vettori next since you both hump so well…. props to you both you made me a better man but [Brendan Allen] is better than you both. I’ll be back. See you three little ninjas around. Until then, I’ll be searching for some good sex partners to help me stop the humping.”
Sean O'Malley asks Dominick Cruz: "Who's a bigger fight than me right now?"
Sean O'Malley is putting his name in the Dominick Cruz sweepstakes.
O'Malley called out Cruz in a skit, playing down the value of other notable bantamweights like T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt, Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling.
"What’s up, Dom? Heard you’re looking for a big fight. Who’s a bigger fight than me right now?” O’Malley said in the video (h/t MMA Junkie). “Corey is about to beat the EPO out of T.J. Rob is about to knock out Cody for the seventh time this year. Petr’s, uh, disqualified for cheating. Aljo’s still knocked out from the knee. Who’s the bigger fight?”
Mike Perry at a loss after Daniel Rodriguez defeat: "I used to be great"
Mike Perry's future sounds uncertain.
Perry released an ominous statement on Instagram following his unanimous decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 23
"I use to be great. I don't know what happened," Perry captioned the post. "I have a fight left on my contract. I’ll train hard, I’ll give it my all for my family. Whatever I have to do to give them a better life. I’ll bleed every day for them if I have to."
Mackenzie Dern wants a top-five ranking after Nina Nunes win
Mackenzie Dern wants to see the number five next to her name after defeating Nina Nunes (formerly Nina Ansaroff) at UFC Vegas 23.
“Yeah, definitely because it was a typical striker vs. grappler (fight),” Dern told reporters at the UFC on ABC 2 post-fight press conference (h/t MMA Junkie). “My last fight with Virna (Jandiroba), she has grappling, but even then I was confident to go to the ground even against a grappler. But I know the way to not risk too much like a broken nose or anything like that was to take it to the ground, and that was the game plan.”
“I would like to go to no. 5 in the rankings,” Dern continued. “But I don’t know. Marina (Rodriguez), who beat Amanda Ribas who beat me, I think she’s No. 6. Claudia Gadelha, who Nina beat and I just beat Nina, is No. 7. So I think around there. I don’t know if Tatiana Suarez is going to come back and fight soon. I know Joanna doesn’t have a fight and they have a couple of fights coming up in the division, so a lot is going to happen. I hope I can go to No. 5, but five, six, seven, around there it will be a good jump already.”
Jon Jones wants to be at least "the same size" as Francis Ngannou for a potential fight
Do not expect Francis Ngannou to tower over Jon Jones if they ever meet.
Jones, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, is currently working towards a transition to heavyweight and he means hevayweight.
“Right now, we’re just training. We’re training and just focusing on things we can control, which is being in the best shape and I think me just getting in shape sells the fight even more. People want to see two titans and Francis is already a titan and I’m trying to become a titan. I want to look like a titan,” Jones said to Fight Hype (h/t BJ Penn). “I want to be the same size as this guy if not bigger when we get out there. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Hopefully, the fight happens. We’ve just got to stay focused, stay training, and see what the UFC is going to do on their part.”
“It feels awesome to train heavy. Good to eat whatever I want, obviously I’m on a great diet right now but get to eat tons of food, a lot of rest,” he added. “Right now, I’m just living like a total athlete. I’m excited to compete at my full potential going in there without a weight cut. I have two brothers that are really big boys and I feel like this is the guy I was supposed to be the whole time.”
Francis Ngannou isn't confident that Jon Jones is "tougher" than Stipe Miocic
Francis Ngannou says Jon Jones has no shortage of skills, but the UFC heavyweight champion is not convinced by the former light-heavyweight champ's toughness.
“Everybody in this position would like to get compensated,” Ngannou said on the “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” podcast (h/t MMA Junkie). “Basically, a guy like Jones, he’s been around for very long and been doing this sport, and (the UFC) grows. I think there’s nothing wrong about (wanting to get paid more). But I don’t know what the deal is. I would like that fight to happen – that would definitely be the No. 1 fight.”
“Jon Jones definitely has more tools in his pocket than Stipe, but I’m not sure he’s tougher than Stipe though,” Ngannou suggested.
Jake Paul warns Ben Askren's kids: "Don't watch this because your dad will be bloodied, unconscious"
Jake Paul has a nasty message for Ben Askren's family.
Jake addressed Askren in a video message that aired on his brother Logan Paul's "Impaulsive" podcast with Ben Askren.
“You think this is a fucking game, you think is a fun payday, you think this is a way to get clout and you might be right,” Paul said in the video. “I promise April 17 will be the worst day of your fucking life. Just as I asked Nate Robinson’s kids not to watch the fight, I will ask your kids to do the same. So, Ben Askren’s kids, wife, please don’t watch this because your dad will be bloodied, unconscious on the fucking canvas [on] April 17. I don’t want you to see that."
“I mean, you already saw him get knocked out in five seconds by Masvidal,” Paul continued. “Your kids are probably going to school getting made fun of because their dad got knocked out in five seconds. Then, he’s going to get knocked out by Jake Paul. So, please leave them out of this."
Jake concluded his expletive-laced address with this:
“You fucked up, Ben by taking this fight. April 17, I promised my team, my family, my brother who is there right next to you right now, I promise to make you go down as history as the world’s worst UFC fighter. You are dumb as fuck, bro,” Paul concluded. “April 17 I will show the world how big of a bitch you are. I will make you my bitch. I fucking promise that.”
Aljamain Sterling rips fans who suggest he should lose title for undergoing neck surgery
Aljamain Sterling is not backing down online.
Sterling recently told ESPN that he will have to undergo neck surgery.
"They told me I will heal in three months, and can start doing cardio to get myself ready," Sterling said. "They wouldn't want to see me take a fight until they see everything has fused in my neck correctly. Five months would be ideal, if I heal up really quick. I'm excited. The faster I heal up, the faster I can fight. We'll find out in the next three months, and get something on schedule."
Love that picture with the flag!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 10, 2021
I hope people realize that Yan won the belt early July, then pulled out of our December fight with NO disclosed reasons.
Win, lose, or draw, this surgery was on the table of discussion for me. When you’re muscles start to atrophy, it’s time. https://t.co/gcSHE6HY4P
Some fans on Twitter suggested Sterling should be stripped. The UFC bantamweight champion was not amused.
For the dummies saying he’s out for 9 months and the losers who says he’s faking shit. See you in October Peanut Butter Pan.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 10, 2021
Sincerely your champ, suck it and life goes on. https://t.co/prcU6sZZNJ https://t.co/2bo4N8GtSF
Julian Marquez successfully calls out NFL players
Julia Marquez keeps making the most of his post-fight interviews.
Following up on his Miley Cyrus call-out, Marquez called out stars of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.at UFC Vegas 23.
“I am the entertainment you paid to see, but ABC gave it to you for free,” Marquez said. “So now I have a callout to give out to everyone from Kansas City. You guys know I’m the baddest man from Kansas City. The baddest middleweight in Missouri and this is one thing, it’s my time right now."
“So Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, I challenge you guys to a badminton or pickleball competition. Straight up, if you guys want to see who the pound-for-pound champ is in Kansas City. This magnificent beard tops all of what you guys have to bring.”
Marquez's call-out worked.
------ need a couple weeks but Im always down for a challenge ---- https://t.co/OC3L15H1Yj
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 10, 2021
We can settle ALL this up at Chicken n Pickle!! LFG!!! pic.twitter.com/KlNUR4NHdK
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) April 10, 2021
-- I’m down
— Ty Hill (@cheetah) April 10, 2021
Scott Coker expects Bellator interim heavyweight title as Ryan Bader progresses at 205
Bellator boss Scott Coker expects to put together a Bellator interim heavyweight title fight now that Ryan Bader is moving forward in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.
“Ryan is obviously going to move forward in the tournament now,” Coker said after Bellator 256 (h/t MMA Junkie). “We’re most likely going to put together an interim title, which we’ll have something to announce in a couple of weeks. Maybe by even next week’s event, we’ll have something to announce. But I think we’re going to be heading in that direction now.”
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