Luke Rockhold has claimed that Khabib Nurmagomedov is targeting becoming a coach in his post-retirement career and is trying to help Rockhold make his return and more — Your Fightful Fix is your one-stop-shop for combat sports news.
Luke Rockhold says Khabib Nurmagomedov is trying to coach him
Luke Rockhold is preparing for his UFC return and he can count on recently retired Khabib Nurmagomedov for help. The pair are AKA teammates and Nurmagomedov is desperate to help Rockhold before he steps foot in the Octagon again. The former middleweight champion has not fought since July 2019 when he was knocked out by now UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion, Jan Blackhowicz at UFC 239, but although he doesn't currently have a scheduled fight, Rockhold claims that Nurmagomedov is giving his input in his training.
“He’s assuming this coaching role now, he’s like: “You can’t be the boss, I have to coach you. He’s going off on me, wanting to coach now. He wants to be a big part of my comeback," Rockhold said to TMZ Sports (h/t LowKickMMA). “He’s going for coach of the year, that’s what he wants, he wants to be the next great thing and follow in his dad’s footsteps, that’s what his dad always did. I said we’ll see.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov Never Thought About Coming Back: ‘I Retired Like Five, Six Months Ago’
Khabib Nurmagomedov has admitted that Dana White's attempts to coax him out of retirement were never tempting. "The Eagle" was speaking to ESPN and claimed that he has been retired officially since UFC 254 in October. White had claimed Saturday that Nurmagomedov "officially" retired after their most recent chat but the former champion has laughed that off and said he has been retired the whole time.
“No (I was never coming back), but Dana called this official. But I retired like five, six months ago,” Khabib said to ESPN's Megan Olivi (h/t MiddleEasy).“It’s very funny, Dana told me when he posted this, he said someone wrote me a comment (saying), ‘He retired not today, he retired like five months ago. It’s funny a little bit, but we had some conversations with Dana a couple of times. Like two days ago, we meet with him, sat and talked like two real men. We have a very good conversation with him, good dinner.”
Eddie Alvarez will be bothered if he doesn't win ONE Championship title
Eddie Alvarez (30-7) has won titles in Bellator and UFC but isn't content with just leaving his accomplishments at that. Alvarez has revealed that he won't be happy if he can't add the ONE lightweight title to his collection. He takes on former title challenger Iuri Lapicus (14-1) on April 7 at ONE on TNT I in a bout he expects will earn him a title shot if he impresses the powers that be.
“I have to win this title,” Alvarez said to MMA Junkie. “I have to. That’ll bug me. There’s a lot of things that bug me, but this’ll bug me. I think it’s a part of history. Very few people are going to have the opportunity to make this history, so in a sense I’m lucky, and in another sense I’m obligated to put forth my best effort to do it. I just don’t think a lot of people will be in this position ever, and I’m in it, and I’m fortunate enough to be in it. So I have to do this for myself, yes.”
Frank Mir has ‘nothing but love’ for Jake Paul’s venture into boxing
Frank Mir will make his professional boxing debut on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren on April 17. Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion and will face two-division boxing champion, Antonio Tarver. Askren and Paul have received criticism from some as neither are established boxers but Mir has admitted that he sees no harm in it and in fact, encourages it as long as you put in the work.
“The crazy part is, Jake Paul, I don’t have anything against him,” Mir said on MMA Fighting’s What the Heck show. “I know a lot of people don’t like him as far as he’s a YouTube star coming into boxing, but look, he garners the attention, so that’s what validates that he’s in that ring. And he takes it serious. It isn’t like this guy’s not training. If he was out partying and drinking and treated this like a joke and he was basically making a masquerade of what I love, combat sports, then absolutely I would be pitchfork and flames and shoulder-to-shoulder with everybody else. But the kid trains, he’s focused, and he’s trying to be a boxer."
“So I have nothing but love for that. That’s what I want everybody to do. I want everybody to be able to enjoy martial arts and train at different levels, whether it’s competing or not. I think it makes everybody a better human being. The kid’s in shape, he’s trying to improve his skill level, there’s a reason why some people are worried for Askren because this kid is actually putting in the work," Mir said. "The fact that his avenue in was that he was a YouTube star, well hey man, all the more power to him that he found a way to be popular and make money. I think a lot of people just hate him because they wish they could have done that.”
Montserrat Conejo denies spitting allegation from Cheyanne Buys
Montserrat Conejo has denied the claim from her UFC Vegas 22 opponent Cheyanne Buys that she spat on her during their heated scuffle during the fight. Conejo told the story from her view after the fight and denied the claims entirely that she may have spat on Buys.
“Everything got started when she insulted my wrestling and my takedowns. She said that I have stupid headlocks and stupid takedowns,” Conejo said through her translator to the media following UFC Vegas 22 (h/t Bloody Elbow). “And she said that she used to know me. So I proved to her that she didn’t know me. I gave her a little hell so she can taste it. I’m not the kind of person that likes to insult other people. I’m a humble girl. But if you touch the wrong buttons, you’re gonna have issues with me. No, I didn’t spit on her at all. Probably, it was the momentum. I’m not the kind of person that likes to spit. If you spit on someone, that’s crossing the line. And that wasn’t something I was thinking of doing in my debut.”
Stephen Thompson Hopes An Injury/Fall Out Gives Him Top-5 Opponent
Stephen Thompson has admitted that he is hoping for a pull-out from a top-ranking welterweight as he struggles to get a fight. "Wonderboy" has called out Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Leon Edwards in recent weeks but no one seems to want to fight Thompson. Thompson knows he's a stylistically difficult opponent but on an uncharacteristically mean note, Thompson is hoping for an injury so he can get his chance.
“I am a difficult opponent to prepare for. I know that a loss (to) me would definitely negate that shot for the title next, so they’re not wanting to fight me, and it shows,” Thompson told Submission Radio recently (h/t CDN MMA). “Everybody at the top 5 is just not wanting it. So I’m kind of keeping my fingers crossed. And hopefully, somebody falls out or somebody gets injured, (and) I can jump in there, you know what I’m saying? So I’m back in the gym. I’m training.”
Grant Dawson targets Clay Guida after UFC Vegas 22: 'It's legends and rankings from here'
Grant Dawson (17-1) earned a sensational knockout over Leandro Santos at UFC Vegas 22 and is targeting "legends and rankings from here on out." Dawson is in search of big names after KOing Santos with one second left. Now with five straight wins since joining the UFC, Dawson thinks it’s time to start dipping his feet in higher-profile bouts.
“It’s legends and rankings from here on out,” Dawson told reporters at the UFC Vegas 22 post-fight press conference (h/t MMA Junkie). “I want to fight guys that are ranked and guys that have big names. I don’t think that I’ve proven myself quite yet at 155. I think that a win over Clay Guida, especially after him saying he’s the one who said ‘I want to fight a young up-and-comer at 155 and somebody with less than 10 UFC fights.’ I’m your guy Clay Guida."
“I’m hurt – my leg is bruised up – but I will make time for you. I will make time. I’ll wait until these are healed, and I will cut weight and fight you. I’ve already beat up two guys from his camp. He’s got the opportunity to get it back for them. I’m the guy.”
RIZIN FF 27 results
(c) Ayaka Hamasaki def. Kanna Asakura via split decision – women’s super atomweight title
Roberto de Souza def. Kazuki Tokudome via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 1:43
Koji Takeda def. Takasuke Kume via unanimous decision
Kleber Koike Erbst def. Kazumasa Majima via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:02
Tsuyoshi Sudario def. Kazushi Miyamoto via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:06
Yoshinori Horie def. Tetsuya Seki via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:16
Hiroki Yamashita def. Kazuma Sone via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:27
Shooto Watanabe def. Takumi Tamaru via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:13
Yutaro Muramoto def. Seigo Yamamoto via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:37
Yuki Ito def. Kohei Sugiyama via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:33
Eddie Bravo’s Combat Jiu-Jitsu Worlds The Bantamweights results
Final
Elias Anderson def. Richard Alarcon via Armbar in OT 3. Elias Anderson wins the 2021 Combat Jiu-Jitsu World Bantamweight Champion.
Special Matches
Chris Crawford def. Edgar Chico via Armbar in OT
Tony Arnal def. Ricardo Vazquez Diaz via Rear-Naked Choke in 2:33 of regulation
Semi-finals
Richard Alarcon def. Suraj Budhram via Fastest Escape in OT 3
Elias Anderson def. Ben Eddy via Fastest Escape in OT 3
Quarterfinals
Richard Alarcon def. Marcelo Cohen via Rear-Naked Choke in regulation time
Suraj Budhram def. Nick Honstein via Traingle Choke in 4:08 of regulation
Ben Eddy def. David Weintraub via Dead Orchard in 2:09 of regulation
Elias Anderson def. Zack Schneider via Armbar in 5:46 of regulation
Opening Round
Richard Alarcon def. Manuel Priego via Kimura at 4:58 of regulation
Marcelo Cohen def. Taylan Yuasa via Fastest Escape Time in OT 3
Suraj Budhram def. Kevin Granados via Armbar at 6:34 of regulation
Nick Honstein def. Hunter Clagett via Rear-Naked Choke at 1:43 of regulation
Ben Eddy def. Randy Villareal via Dead Orchard at 1:40 of regulation
David Weintraub def. Michael Currier via TKO at 5:47 of regulation
Elias Anderson def. Isaac Cordova via Fastest Escape in OT 3
Zack Schneider def. Gabriel Daffron via Rear-Naked Choke in OT
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