Aljamain Sterling is mad after Henry Cejudo pulled out of his Cheto Vita bout at UFC 292, while Kevin Holland wants to complete it twice in July. All of that and more – it’s Mixed Arts Sunday Hits!
Kevin Holland offered to fight Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 290, still competing on UFC 291
UFC welterweight Kevin Holland wants to fight on back-to-back Pay-Per-View cards, both in July.
Holland made the offer after Shawn Brady was forced out of his fight with Jacques de la Maddalena the next week. The Netherlands, who have proven their style of play throughout their footballing career, already had a booked fight against Michael Chiesa on July 30.
ESPN He was among those who reported on Holland’s offer.
# Najran pic.twitter.com/8Qc9NEY74l
– Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) July 1, 2023
While this may not happen, it is an unexpected move from Holland, who has turned into a fan favorite over the past two years.
Sterling criticizes Cejudo for pulling out of the Vera fight
Henry Cejudo has been critical of Aljamain Sterling’s health issues not too long ago, and that led to a strong rebuke from “The Funkmaster” after Cejudo pulled out of a fight with Chito Vera at UFC 292.
‘Henry Cejudo is out of this fight. ‘Brutal!’ Remember that ?wild?texting Dana [White] Saying, “If this little guy doesn’t want to fight, I’ll take the fight?” Isn’t it funny how the roles are now reversed and this “little savage” is no longer a savage? Sterling said Video posted on his Youtube channel (free MMA fighting). “As for me, I call that being a sloppy little weasel. You try to belittle my name in front of the crowd and make it sound like I don’t want to fight, whatever.” The fight wasn’t that bad of a fight so you should be able to get around.” You guys, I tell you from experience, from championship experience, defending several times… It’s very different, preparing for 25 minutes versus 15 minutes.
Henry wanted to be this big bad tough guy and just lie to the fans and make it look like he was in on it to win it, wow! I’m human. I revealed up front at least because I didn’t want to rob the fans of their hard-earned money, because I wanted to check my injuries, and I fought you for my injuries before I came to the octagon! So who’s really savage? Who’s really built like that? Because who Obviously my man, it’s not you. Respectfully.”
Cejudo noted a shoulder injury in withdrawing from the fight. UFC 292 headliner Sterling puts his super bantamweight title on the line against Sean O’Malley. It’s a quick turnaround for the hero. UFC 292 arrives in mid-August, while Sterling defeated Cejudo in May at UFC 288 in Newark, NJ.
Barry Bonds has been promoted to a blue belt in BJJ
Just remember, there is no drug testing in BJJ.
Barry Bonds, MLB’s all-time leader, has been promoted to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt 👏
(via evolvetrainingcenter/IG, h/t @tweet)pic.twitter.com/yuQVCi6AZQ
– ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 30, 2023
Just remember, Steriods are legal in BJJ
This is according to Gordon Ryan anyway. Ryan was challenged by Nicky Rod after Rod picked up a tournament win as part of last week’s UFC Fight Pass Invitational. The pair have competed twice before, with Ryan winning both of their meetings. However, the challenge came with a rider: Run some drug tests under USADA. Here is Ryan’s response (h/t MMA mania):
“First of all, no, because steroids are not illegal in jiu-jitsu,” Ryan said. And the second, I already have a contract coming up to Nicky Rod from USADA and the WADA audition between now and next ADCC, it’ll be interesting to see if he signs that. With matches already. Nicky Roode winning three matches in a row is really impressive because he’s never done that before. If you’re really tracking stats, he sucks. If you actually look at jiu-jitsu in regulation, he literally won’t know a single move.”
Dan Hooker says BMF title makes Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 fight ‘ridiculous’
Most fight fans scoff at the idea of Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje meeting for the second time. But New Zealand’s Dan “The Hangman” Hooker thinks the inclusion of the “BMF” championship (it will be on the line for the winner of the UFC 291 main event) makes it a “slightly silly fight”.
Hooker made the comments on UFC Middleweight Israel Adesanya Youtube Channel.
In short, Hooker wondered what the title actually represented. “That’s why it’s kind of ridiculous fighting, do you know what I mean?” Hooker said (h/t MMA junkie). “We are warriors at the end of the day. Nah. What does that actually mean?”
“Of course I would accept it because there is money that comes with it, and that’s the main goal of doing it,” Hooker said. “But having a BMF title and hanging it on my wall and being proud of it is not the same as a world title. Maybe I put it under the bed or something.”
Gaethje previously told Cageside Press that the BMF title was a promotion that catapults fighters to greatness, and included PPV points and possibly other perks — though UFC president Dana White only said Gaethje and Poirier would be well taken care of at UFC 291.