UFC London underdelivers
UFC London started with a bang and ended in a fizzle. Despite being taut with exciting matchups, the O2 event was sullied by tepid decisions. Namely, the main and featured fights, with fight fans calling for UFC to cut fighters like Michael Page.
Dana White walks out during MVP vs. Patterson
‘MVP,’ a stark voice for fighter rights and a critique of the Paramount+ deal, walked out to ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ by Michael Jackson. His fight with Sam Patterson on the night’s main card was one of the worst of the modern era, and UFC CEO Dana White walked out partway through, never to return, according to OKMMA’s Scott Lagdon on X.
Alex Pereira’s new UFC contract
Not only this, but the venue was littered with empty seats, an uncanny sign coming from the British audience, who are usually frenetic with excitement to see their countrymen in the cage. Lagdon observed the O2 Arena as “dead,” citing ridiculous ticket prices and underwhelming cards as the issue.
Was the card underwhelming? Well, yes! There were some exciting fights and some good finishes, but every fight that mattered massively underdelivered. Evloev vs. Murphy was stylistically bland and resulted in a contentious decision. MVP vs. Patterson was an awful point-fight, and Losene Keita’s debut was a lackluster split loss.
It would be great to say the UFC will return to form soon, but next week’s card in Seattle carries even less weight.
Dana White snubs Jon Jones again
White has rebuked comments made by Jon Jones, who alleged he was “Ready, willing and physically able,” to fight Alex Pereira at UFC White House. ‘Bones’ remarked the promotion wouldn’t budge over $15m for the fight.
Ronda Rousey goes after UFC exec
This is contrary to White’s comments that Jones wasn’t even considered for the White House card. “Never, ever, ever,” were the words White used just two weeks ago at the UFC 326 post-event presser.
Speaking at the UFC London presser, White doubled down on his allegations that Jones “was never going to fight on the White House card.”
“He was never fighting on the White House card,” White replied. “. . . No matter what the money was.”
So here we have some classic UFC tit-for-tat. It’s Jones’ word against White’s word, and theyre equally unreliable.
Netflix’s MMA debut looks promising
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Francis Ngannou?!
Undefeated fighter and former top ranked UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev has confirmed he’ll be fighting on the Netflix MMA debut, pending announcement from MVP sometime on Sunday, 22nd March.
Mokaev’s addition would mark another high-profile name added to the event, and seemingly another fumble for the UFC, who cut Mokaev in 2024 for undisclosed reasons.
Refusal to sign top talent, and their subsequent mass exodus to other high paying promotions is slowly becoming a problem for the UFC, especially with low fan morale after events like UFC London and UFC 326.
Ngannou on Netflix is good for MMA
Casual and hardcore fans are eating well with the current lineup for MVP MMA 1.
- Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
- Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins
- Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
- Lorenz Larkin vs. Jason Jackson
- Muhammad Mokaev vs. TBD; alleged by Mokaev
- Salahdine Parnasse vs. TBD; rumored
Fighters Weekly MMA, UFC, & Boxing News
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