Gilbert Burns sprays the blood challenging other welterweight contenders, Matt Brown isn't going to be retiring, and much more in your Fightful Fix Roundup
Gilbert Burns Calls Out Entire Welterweight Division
In advance of his UFC welterweight title shot at UFC 258 next month, Gilbert Burns is looking ahead to winning the belt and inviting the rest of the division to beat him if they can.
Burns will have to be careful of looking past Usman, but he certainly shared his confidence and plans in an interview with MMA Junkie.
“I’m just different for these guys,” Burns said “I think I’m a big threat and a big danger everywhere. If I touch you with any of my hands, you can feel it. If you try to wrestle me, I can wrestle you. If you try to grapple with me, it will be even more dangerous. I think I’m a big threat, not only for Kamaru but anyone in that division. I’m about to prove that. Then after that I believe I’m going to fight all these guys very soon."
“After Kamaru there’s Colby (Covington). After Colby there’s (Jorge) Masvidal, Leon Edwards, Khamzat Chimaev, (Stephen) ‘Wonderboy’ (Thompson), Michael Chiesa. Every single one I want to fight, and I will fight all these guys, and they will see soon how dangerous I am.”
Burns went on to note that in the crazy pandemic world that we live in at the moment, anything could change at any time.
“Times are crazy right now, (and) you cannot predict anything,” Burns said. “They might book Jorge Masvidal and Colby, and one guy pulls out, ‘Wonderboy’ gets the fight, and he’s right there, or the opposite. I think any one of those top five guys, top six they’re right there. They must stay ready and hope for the opportunity. With COVID, anyone can pull out, and anyone can get hurt, and you’re right there. If I was one of these guys out there in the top seven all the way to No. 1, I would just be ready because opportunity might come soon.”
Ben Askren Promises To Make Jake Paul Ever Regret Boxing
While making the media rounds promoting his upcoming boxing match, Ben Askren continues to talk big, and is promising to make Jake Paul regret ever entering the realm of combat sports.
Askren noted that he didn't have any idea who Paul was when Paul was first started agitating to fight him.
“Honestly, when he first called me out, I had heard the name but I didn’t know anything about him whatsoever,” Askren said (h/t MMA Fighting). “I’m like why is this dude so famous? I can’t really figure it out for the life of me. I guess kids like him and sh*t.”
Askren firmly stated in the interview that he's going to send Paul back looking for different ways to make money.
“I would venture to guess once this thing starts getting serious, I think that getting serious starts on April 17, he’s going to think twice about it,” Askren said. “He’s going to think ‘wow, there’s a lot easier ways for me to make money in life. I kind of thought this was a good idea, I thought this was cool and now maybe I’m thinking twice about this."
“Maybe it’s one where he says that’s too hard or there’s easier ways to make money but I mean with someone who’s got that large of a following, I would anticipate there’s always someone he can fight to make some money. Maybe it’s not as much, maybe there’s a dip or something but I’m sure there’s some other YouTuber he can fight. I don’t even know who all these YouTubers are, I have no idea. But I’m sure there’s someone else he could pick who has an equally large following and they could get other people motivated to watch it.”
Matt Brown Rejects Retirement After Carlos Condit Loss
Despite teasing retirement for his last few fights UFC mainstay Matt Brown will be putting off retirement yet longer still even after a tough loss to fellow veteran Carlos Condit.
Brown not only rejected retirement, but implied he had many more fights left in him, when interviewed by MMA Junkie Radio.
“I retired a few years ago, and then when I came back the primary motivator was just be a prize fighter and make some more money, but since I’ve come back, I’ve really loved the whole process again,” Brown said. “(I’ve) really fell in love with it more again. I’ve kind of seen how good that I can be and the skills that I can – the skills have grown so much. I think I have a lot more in me. I think I can do a lot bigger things than I’ve ever done before.”
Brown has been in the UFC since 2007, and fought a who's who in the welterweight division. His legacy in the sport is secured regardless of his future, but it will certainly be fun to see "The Immortal" fight on inside the UFC.
Patricio Friere Belives Michael Chandler Will "Defeat Everyone" In the UFC
Bellator champion Patricio Friere believes his longtime rival, Michael Chandler will have massive success inside the UFC octagon and was unsurprised by his knock-out victory over Dan Hooker.
Despite knocking out Chandler in their fight in 2019, Friere speaks very highly of him and likes his chances against any opponent the UFC could put in front of him.
“I know Michael Chandler." Friere stated (h/t Bloody Elbow). "I know his potential. He’s very explosive. He throws heavy shots, if it lands, it’s over. I had stated that even before his debut (that Chandler would be the new champion). The fact that he lost to me does not erase his potential. Between him and Poirier, I bet on him, easily. I think he’s going to make it similiar to what he did to Hooker.”
Friere went on to state, that once Chandler has the UFC belt, he thinks it's inevitable the two of them will meet again, despite all the hurdles that would be involved in co-promotion.
“If Chandler becomes the champion, it’ll only go to show that a Bellator guy went out there and destroyed it. He’s already close to a title fight. I knocked him out in less than a minute." Friere bragged "If we have a rematch, I’ll do it again. It’s the fight fans want to see. The fans look at it as a videogame and they want to set up an imaginary fight. They don’t care about promotions, they just want to see it happen. It’s a win-win for everyone. If the UFC doesn’t book this fight, it’ll make them look bad. The Bellator champion is the best one, not yours. It’s on them if they want to have that reputation.”
Diego Ferreira Believes Rematch With Beneil Dariush Will Be Different After A Full Camp
Rising UFC lightweight contender Deigo Ferreira thinks that with the benefit of a full camp, he will have his hand raised when he rematches Beneil Dariush at UFC Vegas 18.
The streaking Ferreira will look to get back one of his only two UFC losses next Saturday when the UFC returns to Vegas, when he faces Dariush in a rematch of their 2014 fight. Unlike the first fight, Ferreira will have a full training camp this time around, and he thinks that'll make all the difference.
“My first training camp for Beneil Dariush (in 2014) was only three weeks (long)." Ferreira commented (h/t MMA Junkie). "I received a short notice, but didn’t want to miss the opportunity. The decision didn’t go my way. Now I have another chance against him. I’m looking forward to it. We’ll both give our best, and I expect to bring another win home to Brazil."
Ferreira then looked ahead to future matchups, without looking past his very tough opponent.
“I expect many great new opponents in the future. Charles Oliveira, for example, destroyed Tony Ferguson in his last fight. For this bout, I’ve been focusing on Beneil’s game, working on various attack and defense strategies. My other goal is to keep up my fighting frequency. I’m training hard to put on another show for the fans.”
Friere was last in action defending his Bellator lightweight title against Pedro Cavalho, and will be looking to defend both his light and welterweight titles in 2021.
Bill Goldberg Shares Training Footage With Dustin Poirier
In advance of his WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble, Bill Goldberg has posted training footage with UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier and shared very complimentary thoughts.
Goldberg wrote "Seems like just yesterday..... but it was Jan 2015 if I remember correctly. I can’t say I know of many more human beings more deserving to be in the situation that they are in then this kid. @dustinpoirier personifies grit and determination . As far as I’m concerned he’s already won no matter the outcome."
James Vick Gets Stopped In Regional Fight
Longtime UFC lightweight James Vick has lost his first fight after being released by the organization in a fight at XMMA fights vs.
Andre Fialho. Just beautiful. Watch this. #XMMA pic.twitter.com/vysz81frka
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) January 31, 2021
Vick exited the UFC on back to back losses to Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje, and it looks like his string of poor results has continued by the hands of Andre Fialho.
Frankie Edgar Believes A Finish Versus Cory Sandhagen May Mean Title Shot
Frankie Edgar thinks that if he can impress in his co-main event next weekend at UFC Vegas 18 against Cory Sandhagen could be enough for him to get a bantamweight title shot.
The former UFC lightweight champion is trying to make a late-career run at the title currently held by Petr Yan, and he said as much in an appearance on Real Quick with Mike Swick.
“To me, this really could be a No. 1 contender fight. He’s No. 2, I’m right behind him. Aljo (Sterling) and Petr Yan just got booked, I believe March 6, so it’s a perfect time." Edgar said (h/t MMAMania.com). "We fight the month before these guys. See what happens with them and then hopefully the winner of ours gets the winner of that,”
“The ’35-pound division is really hot right now. I’ve got to go in there and make a statement. I’ve got to go in there and finish Cory if I want to get that title shot, and that’s what I’ve been working on this whole camp — going in there, pressuring him, and really making him wilt in there and showing some experience. I have more experience than anybody in this game for the most part; not too many older fighters than me in the UFC right now, so I’ve got to utilize that to my best ability and make this happen.”
Deiveson Figueiredo Promises To Shut Henry Cejudo's "Big Mouth"
UFC featherweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo has continued to extend his war of words with former champion Henry Cejudo, hoping to draw him back into the cage.
Despite a rematch forthcoming against Brandon Moreno, Figueiredo's focus seems fairly focused on the former double champion Cejudo, and he had choice words for him in an interview with AG Fight
“Cejudo is a swashbuckler, talks too much, has a big mouth." Figueiredo said (h/t BJ Penn.com). "I really want to be able to knock out and beat this guy. I can’t wait for that to happen. I’m going to shut Moreno up and get Cejudo. They talk too much. They know my potential, they know how bad I am. I get even worse when I am provoked like this,”
“He (Cejudo) will pay dearly for what he has said. If he thinks he is a wrestler, I am a marajoara wrestler. I’ve beaten many wrestling guys. I’m going to knock this guy out. Or put it down and finish it. I will show that his wrestling is not compatible with my jiu-jitsu and marajoara fight. I will defend the belt of my category, then I will call Cejudo to my division and he can be sure that I will knock him out. After that, I accept this rematch anywhere.”
Fightful has all of your MMA needs covered. Follow us on Twitter for updates, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, lists, news updates, and predictions.
