Brazilian UFC middleweight fighter Paulo Costa is once again making headlines for his controversial behavior. Costa, who has proclaimed himself as a meme god, recently received backlash from fans after getting upset over a taunting tweet. Costa is set to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 298, and Whittaker has been hyping up the fight. A fan account mocked Costa for pulling out of previous fights and even created a mock petition to 'kill Costa if he pulls out' of the upcoming match. Costa reposted the comment, causing fans to react and make jokes about his history of withdrawals from fights. This incident comes after Costa's previous controversy involving an offensive meme about Ian Garry's relationship drama. The meme, which suggested infidelity, drew criticism from fans and the MMA community. Costa's behavior and sportsmanship have been a subject of debate in the MMA world. This will be Costa's fifth potential withdrawal from a fight, and fans are divided on whether the petition is serious or not. [Source: FirstSportz]
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs Topuria took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on February 17, 2024. The main event featured Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight crown against Ilia Topuria. The co-main event was a middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. The event was streamed on ESPN+ in the United States, with the main card starting at 10pm ET / 7pm PT. The preliminary card began at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. The early prelims started at 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT. The event was also available for streaming on UFC Fight Pass. The fight card included several other matchups, including Geoff Neal vs Ian Machado Garry, Merab Dvalishvili vs Henry Cejudo, and Amanda Lemos vs Mackenzie Dern, among others. The event was broadcasted in various countries at different times. The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 also took place, featuring grappling superstars Craig Jones, Rafael Lovato, Nicky Rodriguez, and Roberto Jimenez. Dominick Cruz provided a breakdown of the Volkanovski vs Topuria fight. UFC 298 Embedded episodes were available to go behind the scenes with the athletes. The official scorecards for the event can be viewed on the UFC website. [Source: UFC]
Dustin Poirier's UFC journey has included electrifying fights, a notable rivalry with Conor McGregor, and significant philanthropic efforts alongside his wife, Jolie Poirier. The couple's dedication to charitable causes through their foundation has garnered widespread admiration. With Poirier hinting at retirement after UFC 299, the spotlight intensifies on his career and personal life, especially his relationship with McGregor and the potential impact on his philanthropic endeavors. The feud between Poirier and McGregor has been one of the most talked-about rivalries in MMA history, with personal jabs and intense bouts. Poirier's retirement could mark a new chapter for him, allowing him to focus more on philanthropy and family. The outcome of UFC 299 will shape Poirier's legacy as a fighter and philanthropist, and the decision will impact the MMA community and charitable causes. Poirier's potential retirement highlights the impact athletes can have beyond their professional achievements, and the complex interplay between personal lives, public personas, and the broader community.
Ian Machado Garry, a professional MMA fighter, has responded to Colby Covington's stipulations and issued his own challenge in a video on Instagram. Garry criticized Covington for objectifying his wife, Layla, and stated that women are not property. He called for a fight against Covington and challenged him to an 'I Quit' match, where the loser would have to retire. Garry, who has a perfect professional record, has defeated fighters like Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Daniel Rodriguez. On the other hand, Covington has lost three UFC title fights and has only won twice since 2020. The challenge from Garry adds fuel to the ongoing rivalry between the two fighters and has sparked interest among MMA fans. [Source: MMA Junkie]
Conor McGregor, the renowned MMA fighter, has proposed a solution to the ongoing feud between boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya and world champion fighter Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez, a former member of De La Hoya's Golden Boy promotion, had made disparaging remarks about De La Hoya. The animosity between the two was evident when they came to blows during a press conference. McGregor, who recently purchased an ownership stake in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, suggested that Canelo and De La Hoya settle their differences by fighting in the upstart promotion. However, it is unlikely that De La Hoya, who is 51 years old and retired, would agree to the fight. Additionally, Canelo has shown no interest in fighting bare-knuckled. Despite the unlikelihood of the fight happening, McGregor believes it would be an intriguing matchup that would attract a lot of attention. [Source: Dexerto]
Dana White, the CEO and President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has had numerous meltdowns over the years. His fiery personality has helped turn UFC into a mainstream sports giant, but it has also led to controversial moments and clashes with critics. Some of his biggest meltdowns include his outburst against Peloton, his response to critics of UFC 300, his clash with journalist Kevin Iole over Covid-19, his decision to axe Paul Daley for breaking the rules, his use of a homophobic slur against a journalist, his feud with Ariel Helwani, his verbal attack on Georges St. Pierre, his video response to media criticism during the Covid-19 pandemic, his confrontation with Oscar de la Hoya, and his ongoing feud with Tito Ortiz. Despite the controversies, White's passion for the sport and his unfiltered attitude have made him a popular figure in the MMA world. UFC President Dana White endorsed Donald Trump's presidential campaign at the Republican National Convention in July 2016. White praised Trump's loyalty, work ethic, and support for the UFC. He endorsed Trump again at the 2020 RNC, highlighting his economic achievements. White and select UFC fighters campaigned for Trump and reshaped the organization as a haven for conservatives and right-wing influencers. Trump made regular appearances at UFC events. White is expected to introduce Trump at the 2024 RNC. The UFC has invested more time and effort in promoting Trump than any other American sports league. This phenomenon has been the focus of Karim Zidan's reporting for the past six years. Zidan has compiled his reporting on Trump and the UFC into a single archive for Sports Politika subscribers. [Source: sportspolitika.news]
Dana White's exclusive deal with ESPN has led to a significant increase in PPV piracy. The prices for UFC pay-per-view events have increased from $59.99 to $79.99, causing concern among fans. TKO President Mark Shapiro has admitted that the high prices have driven piracy numbers up. Shapiro and Dana White had a meeting with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro to discuss the pricing issue. Fans have criticized the lack of depth in UFC cards and the high cost of PPVs. They hope for lower prices or a new mechanism to watch UFC. Negotiations between UFC and ESPN are upcoming. [Source: EssentiallySports]