I had to get on it right away with all of the emotions that were tied into this one. Hard to do this storyline justice, but I tried my best. History 🙏🏼
#UFC287
I understand this may come off as a “feel good” story but it actually just highlights the corruption of the UFC and the issue of fighter pay. Pantoja has been fighting and beating top guys for years now, there should be no reason for him to be relying on UBER EATS for money. Sad
🚨| Newly crowned UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja was driving for Uber Eats two fight’s ago and only stopped working for the company after he got his $50K bonus vs Brandon Royval.
[per
@arielhelwani
/ The MMA Hour]
#UFC290
#UFC
#MMA
“Diaz is an OG of the sport & the ufc tried to screw him by matching him up w/ the boogeyman for his last fight, fighters show up for the presser, end up brawling, PRESSER GETS CALLED OFF, 3 fighters miss weight including said boogeyman & now we r waiting for a main event, crazy”
The UFC seems to think that their name will carry the promotion of these huge fights but that outlook is not sustainable. We’re 9 days out from one of the biggest fights of the year & if you’re not tapped into the MMA community, I’m sure you know nothing about it. It’s a shame.
Ben Rothwell confirms to Ariel Helwani that BKFC president David Feldman did indeed put two mortgages up to help fund the event on Saturday. He really “bet the house” & its lovely to see how it worked out for him.
#TheMMAHour
🚨| Dana White is confident he can make the fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg happen in the UFC.
White says he spoke with both men last night and they are ‘deadly serious’ about the fight.
White believes it would be the biggest selling fight in history, tripling the
Ngannou should have already been making more than what the UFC paid Lesnar in 2016 to make him the highest paid UFC heavyweight in history. TWENTY SIXTEEN… 7 years ago. It boggles my mind that Dana used that point at the post fight presser & thought it was of significance.
Jon Jones never dethroned the actual heavyweight champion of the UFC. I don’t understand the shade towards a man who is trying to evolve the sport as a whole.
Holland had a 5 year run in the UFC & made quite an impact. He was unapologetically himself & that’s what I loved about him. Sad for the fans but cheers to the fighters that make their money, have their fun & leave the sport before the sport forces them out. Cheers, big mouth. 🫶🏻
Charles as an underdog is a crazy concept to me. I understand that Islam is a dominant fighter, but Charles has beat all of the top opponents in his last 5+ fights. If he leaves with a win on Saturday, I hope that people finally put some respect on his accomplishments.
In 6 days I get to surprise my dad with tickets to his first ever live UFC event. He’s spent the last few months in rehab and gets out on Monday.. for those of you who don’t know, he introduced me to mixed martial arts over 10 years ago through
@ChaelSonnen
& Anderson Silva 1.
The UFC is already treating O’Malley like he’s the champion. Aljo said initially that he’d fight in September, only a month after the original date that Dana and O’Malley proposed.. and has since accepted the August date. Imagine he didn’t? An interim? For what LMAO?What a joke.
🚨| Dana White on Aljamain Sterling with
@FanSidedMMA
:
“Well, first of all, I didn't hear what he said, number one. Number 2, I'm not the one that went out and said 'if my body holds up', when I'm promoting a fight.
If you're not healthy, don't take the fight. We'll have
@byebyenidhiii
I think he’s definitely jeopardized his chance of being the next superstar. The original tweet is a joke, but he quite literally ruined this card and smiled about it.
I appreciate the professionalism of Ariel addressing this situation between him, Paddy & Dana White on The MMA Hour. Seems to be based in fact, mature and straight to the point.
It felt like a fever dream, Cory Sandhagen walking into the bar I work at tonight. In the middle of the mountains in Colorado. He’s a gem of a human being, never fangirled the way that I did tonight. I am happy. Goodnight
Irene Aldana and Alexa Grasso both fighting for titles. Brandon Moreno fighting this weekend for a title. My lil Mexican heart gon pump out my chest❤️🇲🇽
Please do not run with the narrative that Imán Khelif is transgender. That is not true.
I would also like to see that same energy toward a literal convicted child r*pist who is still able to compete and is given special accommodations to avoid backlash, Steven van de Velde.
A snippet of my dad watching the video from Chael. This is before I even told him about the tickets..
He wants me to thank all of you for the loving words you’ve sent his way & for supporting my journey here. This community is big yet so small, thank you guys. See you at 296! 🥹
@MMADumbTweets
Eh. I don’t think it’s dumb, with Chandlers wrestling background and heavy power. Still wouldn’t bet on em, but I don’t think it’s a bad take :-)
Even though this is heartbreaking as a Charles fan, as a fan of the sport itself, I have to applaud Islam for this dominant win. A great way to continue the legacy of Abdulmanap & Khabib Nurmagomedov. Congrats champ 🙏🏽
Holland had a 5 year run in the UFC & made quite an impact. He was unapologetically himself & that’s what I loved about him. Sad for the fans but cheers to the fighters that make their money, have their fun & leave the sport before the sport forces them out. Cheers, big mouth. 🫶🏻
Just picked up my dad. 8 hour drive.
Gonna stop for breakfast & surprise him with the tickets and a special video from the one and only BAD GUY! One of his favorite fighters of all time… 🤫 let’s go!!!!!
In 6 days I get to surprise my dad with tickets to his first ever live UFC event. He’s spent the last few months in rehab and gets out on Monday.. for those of you who don’t know, he introduced me to mixed martial arts over 10 years ago through
@ChaelSonnen
& Anderson Silva 1.
A member of Khazmat’s team says that the weight miss was due to a “health issue”… yet he’s smirking and flipping off the camera while leaving the scale. Interesting.
Per
@arielhelwani
I prefer Pavlovich vs Aspinall over Miocic vs Jones match up wise. I would have loved to see Stipe & Jon fight.. 3+ years ago. Of course it sucks to have a champ injured & pull out of a title bout but the new title fight is a match between 2 young, hungry & highly skilled
I am violently hungover but IT’S MY BIRTHDAY 🥳 Twitter has given me some of my bestfriend’s & best memories. Preciate y’all for rocking with the kid ❤️
Francis Ngannou lists Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury as his desired opponents if he were to do a boxing fight. Also says Deontay Wilder is an interesting opponent.
#TheMMAHour
Brandon Royval tells Ariel Helwani that his brother is currently incarcerated & one of the main reasons it was so important for him to be on the main card was due to ESPN being available for his brother to watch, unlike ESPN+ where his fight was broadcasted Saturday.
#TheMMAHour