MMA

UFC fighters make a pittance relative to the promotion's revenue, and Dana White has no plans on changing that anytime soon.

The UFC president recently sat down with GQ and pushed back on any calls for him to raise fighter purses.

“Fighters always want to make more money,” White said (2:40 mark). “Boxing has absolutely been destroyed because of money and all the things that go on. It's never gonna happen while I’m here. Believe me, these guys get paid what they’re supposed to get paid. They eat what they kill. They get a percentage of the pay-per-view buys and the money is spread out amongst all the fighters.

"If you don't like it, there's a simple solution to this problem: Go start your own MMA organization. No barrier to entry. Knock yourself out. Pay 'em whatever you want to pay 'em. It's been done before. How's it worked out for other guys? Not well. Mind your business."

The UFC has historically paid fighters around 20 percent of the company's revenue. That pales in comparison to athletes in other sports leagues. NFL, NBA and NHL players all make between 48-50 percent of their sport's revenue. Major League Baseball has a less structured system and varies year-to-year, but it tends to be in a similar percentage range.

The UFC pay scale is most similar to that of WWE, which has also been accused of low-balling its employees.

As you may have guessed, there is one major difference between the four major men's professional sports leagues and UFC and WWE: Those leagues have unions. Neither UFC nor WWE fighters are unionized, meaning there is no overarching representative body ensuring they're paid properly.

Jake Paul, who has had a contentious relationship with White, has consistently criticized UFC for its pay scale of fighters and proposed starting a union earlier this year.

“I want to create a fighters union," Paul said on ESPN's First Take. "This is my goal, is to really impact the whole entire sport, both MMA and boxing, and leave an everlasting stamp. And I just so happen to not be beholden to anybody. A lot of these UFC fighters are beholden to Dana White. They can’t speak out against him. So I’m using my platform because I’m one of the very few people who actually can. I’ll say whatever, I’ll speak the truth. I’m just doing what my responsibility is as a fighter and as someone who cares about other fighters.”

Alex Pereira is the last man to beat Israel Adesanya at the latter's natural weight. A rematch couldn't come at a better time for the UFC middleweight champ.

After his last bout, a lackluster if convincing 49-46, 49-46, 50-45 win over an overmatched Jared Cannonier in July at UFC 276, fans and fighters alike hung the dreaded boring tag on Adesanya.

Like his idol, Anderson Silva, before him, Adesanya's striking and movement are so far above his peers that he's rarely forced to stomp on the gas pedal, allowing him to coast to victories while taking minimal damage. It's a smart strategy but a frustrating one for action junkies, particularly when juxtaposed with the trademark hype Adesanya lays down before the fact.

So, the backlash was probably inevitable. It didn't start with Cannonier—for example, an underwhelming performance in a February rematch with Robert Whittaker also drew criticism —but the bout sent the detractions into a new stratum, with the Las Vegas faithful even walking out en masse toward the end of the contest.

That's not what the UFC wants to see out of arguably its most famous non-Conor McGregor fighter. Enter Pereira and the collision between these two on November 12 at UFC 281 in New York's Madison Square Garden.

The Brazilian has earned 21 knockouts in kickboxing and has five stoppage wins on his 6-1 pro MMA ledger, including a first-round knockout of well-regarded Sean Strickland on the same UFC 276 card and a spectacular flying-knee finish of Andreas Michailidis last year. Not to mention that defeat of Adesanya.

The bout in question was a kickboxing match, well before Adesanya transitioned to MMA. The year was 2017, and Pereira used a short left hook to flatten Adesanya—the only knockout defeat on Adesanya's combat sports resume—at Glory of Heroes 7 in Pereira's hometown of Sao Paulo. To add even more intrigue, Pereira took a decision win over Adesanya in 2016.

There's no question Pereira will be aggressive and wield his crushing power on the feet, essentially compelling Adesanya to up the tempo and the output. That's why it's so opportune. If the legacy-conscious Adesanya can't bring the heat for this matchup, it's hard to know what would bring back the laser-guided destruction of Adesanya's earlier years in the profession.

Adesanya is a slim but significant -165 favorite in the contest, per DraftKings. This suggests Vegas believes Pereira has a path to victory.

So…can he do it?

The fact that he's a converted kickboxer doesn't make Pereira a babe in the woods when it comes to the rest of the MMA skill set. He's training with former light heavyweight titlist and rugged grappler Glover Teixeira at Teixeira's gym in Connecticut.

Adesanya has surely evolved as well since his UFC debut in 2018. Still, don't expect a lot of double-leg takedowns and judo throws. The Nigerian-New Zealander has yet to attempt a takedown in 13 UFC contests. Meanwhile, his takedown defense stands at 81.2 percent, good for fourth among active UFC middleweights.

Pereira's stats are similar, if generated by a smaller sample size. He has no takedowns attempted in three UFC contests and a 73 percent takedown defense rate.

So, in short, while it might be tempting to conclude that Adesanya, by virtue of his experience, would have a ground advantage over Pereira, it's likely this one isn't going to the mat. It's much more likely this one will be an intense stand-up battle.

Statistically speaking, Pereira takes one shot to land two. His 3.36 strikes absorbed per minute is not great, though his 6.29 strikes landed per minute is rock solid. His propensity for head-hunting is at odds with Adesanya's more conservative approach.

When one looks back at his knockout loss to Pereira, it's obvious how far Adesanya has advanced. The 2017 version of the Last Stylebender looks positively flat-footed compared with the fluid footwork and head movement he uses these days. He'll be a lot less hittable in November than he was five years ago.

But Pereira could take a page from the last man to defeat Adesanya: then-light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz. Blachowicz committed to stopping Adesanya's kicking game, checking low kicks and high kicks alike. Low kicks are a specialty of Adesanya's, but against Blachowicz, that part of his game was relatively quiet.

Pereira isn't known for his defense, but there's still a blueprint for success that he'd be wise to follow, especially if a win is more important to him than a war.

Now let's flip it back to the other side: Adesanya is a brilliant fighter at the peak of his powers. That can't be emphasized enough. These "boring" accusations may be valid on some level, but they aren't born out of an eroded skill set or a sudden inability or patent unwillingness to engage. He's still the champ, and he'll need to be dethroned accordingly.

If Pereira wants to do it, he'll need to avoid a protracted chess match. He'll need to commit to aggression and at least a modicum of defense against the counters that will surely come back his way. He'll need to be the hammer to Adesanya's nail.

Can he do it? He surely can. But even if this is strictly a stand-up battle, Pereira will need to take more risks. With his Q rating on the line, Adesanya should answer that call, meaning he'll need to take risks of his own. If he can maintain order within the chaos, the champ will have a good chance to win. But with Pereira's power and fearlessness, he could prove to be—again—the thorn in Adesanya's side.

Statistics via UFCStats and UFC.com unless otherwise noted.

Earlier this year, Oscar De La Hoya expressed the desire to end his long feud with UFC President Dana White. While White was willing to accept De La Hoya's apology, he said he has no intentions of rekindling their friendship.

"I feel like De La Hoya’s apology was sincere, but there’s no way that he and I can ever be friends again,” White said during a fan Q&A with GQ Sports (h/t Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “He and I were actually friends. I used to go to his fights. I used to watch his fights. I used to promote his fights. That guy did way too much damage for us to ever be friends again. I appreciate his apology. I get it. We’re cool, but we’re never going to be that cool."

White and De La Hoya's feud dates back to the 2017 fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather, which White helped co-promote. De La Hoya said the matchup was "disrespecting the sport of boxing," which obviously didn't sit well with White and sparked their rivalry.

De La Hoya had challenged White to a fight several times during their back-and-forth. White has said a slew of disparaging remarks about the former boxing world champion over the years.

A crossover superfight between PFL star Kayla Harrison and Bellator MMA featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has long been viewed as a pipe dream, but it appears there's a chance it becomes a reality.

On Tuesday, PFL CEO Donn Davis took to Twitter for a $4 million offer to Harrison and Cyborg in hopes of getting a fight agreement done.

Cyborg responded directly to Davis, questioning Harrison's credentials and the notion they should be paid equally:

Cyborg made an appearance on Wednesday's episode of The MMA Hour and announced that her next fight would be a boxing match against Simone Silva on Sept. 25 in her hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. Afterward, Harrison made an unscheduled call into the show and laid down a challenge pleading for a fight against the 37-year-old.

"We can do winner takes all, or we can do when she loses, she gets to keep her purse," Harrison said. "If she needs help getting the deal signed, I will call [PFL executives] Peter Murray ... and Donn Davis and ask them, whatever price she wants, I will speak to them on her behalf."

Harrison continued: "And I'll go through a full [U.S. Anti-Doping Agency] drug testing—I will be drug-tested every day from now until the fight, if she's worried about that. And she doesn't have to be drug-tested at all. The only thing I ask is that they allow elbows." When asked why she wants to be allowed to strike with elbows, Harrison responded, "So I can put one through her skull."

Harrison is going after her third straight $1 million featherweight tournament victory, as she is scheduled to face Martina Jindrova on Aug. 20 in the 2022 PFL Playoffs. Still, that hasn't stopped her from calling for a fight against Cyborg because she wants to test her skills against the best fighters in the world.

However, Cyborg recently said she hasn't been contacted by PFL. She said Wednesday that she does have interest in a fight against Harrison, but it's not particularly important to her.

"I've been in a lot of big fights in my career," Cyborg said on The MMA Hour. "I think she really needs one biggest fight for her career too. I'm happy with my career. I can finish my career and not fight Kayla. But it's going to be great if this fight happens. If people would like to watch the fight, it's going to be great. But just not on the internet, they have to make it happen."

After Cyborg announced her agreement to fight Silva, Harrison called her out in a series of tweets and also made reference to Cyborg's 2012 positive steroid test result. Cyborg then blocked her on Twitter.

Former UFC women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg's next fight will not take place in a cage, but rather in a boxing ring.

Cyborg announced on Wednesday's episode of The MMA Hour that she will compete in a boxing match against Simone Silva on Sept. 25 in her hometown of Curitiba, Brazil. Cyborg officially signed her contract live on the show.

According to MMA Fighting, the fight between Cyborg and Silva will be under the Fight Music Show (FMS) and the promotion's middleweight championship will be on the line. The fight will take place at the Athletico Paranaense Arena, which was the site of Cyborg's UFC debut in 2016.

The reigning Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cyborg most recently defended her title for the fourth time in a unanimous decision victory over Arlene Blencowe in April. She has also held titles in Strikeforce and Invicta FC. The knockout artist is currently on a six-fight win streak after losing her UFC belt to Amanda Nunes in 2018.

Cyborg (26-2, 1 NC) has been vocal in the past about her desire to test her skills in boxing while still competing in mixed martial arts. She recently called it "one of my dreams" to step into a boxing ring.

The 37-year-old will face a veteran boxer in Silva, who has a 17-21 record with six knockouts. However, she's riding an eight-fight losing streak dating back to 2019.

While Cyborg is set to get her feet wet in boxing, it's unclear who will be her next MMA opponent. There isn't yet a clear No. 1 contender at featherweight in Bellator. There has been speculation that PFL would pursue a deal with Cyborg to match her up against two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison, but Cyborg said she has not had any contact with the promotion.

Legendary martial artist and stuntman Gene LeBell has died at the age of 89.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten announced LeBell's death on Facebook amid a lengthy tribute to the titan, who also made his indelible mark in sports entertainment and Hollywood as well.

"You will be greatly missed Gene, I love you my friend, till we meet again!" Rutten closed.

Ex-UFC champion Ronda Rousey also posted a tribute picture with her and LeBell following news of his death. Many others offered their condolences and remembrances as well.

IMDB.com lists him as having 252 stunt credits and 156 acting credits. He reportedly served as a partial inspiration for the character Cliff Booth in the Academy Award-nominated film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Per Phil Jones of Jits Magazine, LeBell "earned a 10th-degree red belt in Judo, a 10th-degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai, and a ninth-degree black belt in Ju Jitsu."

Byran Rose of FW4Online also noted the influence of LeBell, who was known as the "Godfather of Grappling," in wrestling:

"In pro wrestling, he ran NWA's Los Angeles territory, NWA Hollywood Wrestling, from 1968 through 1982. He also served as the referee for the Muhammad Ali/Antonio Inoki match that took place in 1976. He wrestled his final pro wrestling match in 1981, against Peter Maivia in NWA Hollywood Wrestling."

LeBell was truly one of one and an iconic figure who was well-liked and made a tremendous, long-lasting impact everywhere he went.

UFC fighter Uriah Hall has announced his retirement from the sport on Instagram:

It is with great sadness that I will be stepping away from the greatest sport in the world. I’m going to miss the incredible UFC staff that has became like family and the mentors I have met along the way. The UFC has given me the Best opportunity to step completely outside my comfort zone. Throughout the years I’ve gone up against some of the best in the world at the highest level. Although I did not achieve the rank of world champion i’ve acquired some of my greatest achievements from mixed martial arts and that was facing my fears and being a champion in life.

The 38-year-old had an 18-11 career record in MMA with 14 wins by knockout. He was ranked 12th in the middleweight division after his July 2 loss to Andre Muniz.

His last bout came nearly a year after his previous match against Sean Strickland, which he lost in a five-round battle that ended by decision.

Hall put forth an impressive resume prior to his recent slide, including a 2020 knockout win over Anderson Silva that represented the final fight in the legend's UFC career.

The Jamaican fighter also has a TKO victory over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in 2021, as well as wins over contenders like Thiago Santos and Gegard Mousasi. He earned two Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC Fight Nights, one after beating Mousasi and another after a win over Krzysztof Jotko.

Hall first came to prominence on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter, reaching the finals before losing to Kelvin Gastelum in the 2013 finale.

Even without getting a title shot, Hall completes an impressive UFC career.

Cris Cyborg is headed toward the boxing ring.

The MMA legend revealed she is planning to make her boxing debut once a contract is finalized.

“My team already received the contract, we’ve been back and forth working on the contract, I believe soon, we’ll finish and I’ll sign,” Cyborg said on The Catch-Up. “Then you guys are gonna know who and where is gonna be my next fight. I’m very excited to do my first fight in boxing. Very, very excited. It’s one of my dreams.”

Cyborg, the current Bellator featherweight champion, has not fought since defeating Arlene Blencowe in April. Her contract with Bellator expired this summer, allowing her to become a free agent.

The 37-year-old has been an MMA nomad over the course of her career, winning championships in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC and Bellator. UFC is the only promotion she fought in more than five times.

There was talk of Cyborg potentially fighting Kayla Harrison of the PFL, but Cyborg says there have not been any discussions with the promotion. PFL previously blocked Harrison from fighting Cyborg in Bellator by matching her contract.

“We’ve never had any talks with PFL,” Cyborg said. “They never talk about this fight. I know it’s a lot of talks on the internet to make this fight happen with [Harrison], two different ways, but I’ve never had the opportunity to talk about anything.

Cyborg has no boxing experience. She has tried her hand at professional grappling and muay thai in the past, but boxing had never seemed like much of an option. That said, most of Cyborg's career victories in MMA have come via knockout with her fists.