Joe Rogan: Julianna Pena ‘changed the entire world’ with upset win over Amanda Nunes
Joe Rogan believes Julianna Pena ‘changed the entire world’ following her shock upset victory over Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 and has given people the confidence to tackle the impossible. Rogan, who invited Pena as a guest on the latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, told the newly-crowned women’s bantamweight champ that she changed […]
Cody Garbrandt’s career ‘is over’ if he gets knocked out again, says uncle and ex-coach
Six years ago, Cody Garbrandt was on the top of the UFC bantamweight division, a knockout artist putting people to sleep left and right. He even secured the 135-pound title via a methodical beating of former perennial champion Dominick Cruz in late 2016. The years that followed weren’t kind to “No Love,” losing three straight […]
‘Pay me’ – Julianna Peña willing to fight Kayla Harrison or Amanda Nunes at any weight
One of the side stories that kind of went under the radar at UFC 269 was the intended matchup between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. But Julianna Peña’s victory that night spoiled these plans, much to the disappointment of Harrison. “The Venezuelan Vixen” recently went on the JRE MMA Show to talk about that momentous […]
Julianna Peña challenges doubters of choke used against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269
Julianna Peña is once again defending her title-winning performance against Amanda Nunes at UFC 269 earlier this month. Peña dethroned Nunes after submitting her with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their fight. The finish was clean, but the newly crowned champion has been questioned about how secure the choke actually was since […]
Khabib: Dustin Poirier will never be the same fighter following loss to Charles Oliveira
Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks we may have seen the last of Dustin Poirier following his title defeat to Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. Poirier, who came up short in his bid to become lightweight champ, said prior to the fight that he wanted to fight less frequently and, judging by his post-fight comments (see below), ‘The […]
Coach: Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes 2 is ‘the rematch of the century’
Julianna Pena’s longtime BJJ coach Luiz Claudio believes Amanda Nunes underestimated her opponent at UFC 269 and believes a second fight between the two ladies will be one of the biggest title fights of the century. Claudio doesn’t think Nunes underestimated Pena to the point of not training but claims ‘The Lioness’ didn’t expect ‘The […]
The Level Change Podcast 153: UFC updates Covid policy, Fight Night picks
Welcome to the The Level Change Podcast, our combat sports themed variety show hosted by Stephie Haynes, Mookie Alexander and Victor Rodriguez, featuring the news of the week, fight card breakdowns and analysis, a roundup of regional promotions’ cards and fights, and whatever else we decide is important enough or entertaining enough to bring to […]
Daniel Cormier: Amanda Nunes ‘should’ve just went to sleep’ rather than tap to Julianna Pena
Daniel Cormier doesn’t buy into the narrative that Amanda Nunes quit against Julianna Pena at UFC 269, but he does think ‘The Lioness’ should have done more to go out on her shield. ‘DC’ believes it would have been better for Nunes’ legacy if she didn’t tap to Pena in the second round and ‘just […]
Joe Rogan: Amanda Nunes’ performance at UFC 269 was like ‘watching a regional fight’
Joe Rogan says watching Amanda Nunes swinging punches at Julianna Pena and tiring herself out at UFC 269 was like ‘watching a regional fight’. Rogan came down hard on Nunes during a recent interview with UFC bantamweight prospect Marlon Vera and says ‘The Lionesses’s performance was simply ‘inexcusable’. “She was like trying to take her […]
I’ll debate him with data and crush him – Reporter responds to Dana White’s ‘dipsh-t’ comments at UFC 269
You can always count on Dana White to be fired up about something during press conferences. At the recent UFC 269 post-fight presser, the UFC president lashed out at reporter Darren Rovell. “The dipshit there. What’s his name?” White told the media. “The dipshit that thinks he knows about this business. Rovell. Darren Rovell. Dipshit […]
Poirier may ‘never fight at 155 pounds again’ after ‘underperforming’ at UFC 269, angles for Nate Diaz bout
UFC 269 was a forgettable night for Dustin Poirier, to say the least. For the second time in his noteworthy career, the 32-year-old Lafayette native failed at his bid to a UFC world title by losing in the exact same manner. Now nearly a week off that night, “The Diamond” remains visibly distraught, and understandably […]
Muniz ‘upset’ with Dana White for not winning bonus at UFC 269: ‘That bonus was half of my house’
Rising middleweight Andre Muniz had an impressive win at UFC 269, but felt left out after learning which fighters earned performance bonuses. Although the promotion awarded six different athletes in a night full of finishes, the Brazilian’s first-round submission of Eryk Anders did not make the cut. In an interview with Combate, Muniz confessed he […]
Tap shaming? – Brown reacts to Chandler’s ‘shallow thinking,’ ‘ridiculous’ criticism of Poirier
For the second time in two years, Dustin Poirier failed at his bid for a UFC championship via rear-naked choke, this time at the hands of Charles Oliveira at UFC 269. To add insult to injury “The Diamond” was criticized by the likes of Michael Chandler, who insinuated that he “quit” in that fight. I […]
UFC fighter rankings: O’Malley enters 135-pound list, Oliveira cracks top five P4P
UFC 269 was one of the best events of the year, and it’s not too surprising that the rankings were quite shaken up in the aftermath. Charles Oliveira secured his legacy with a thrilling win over Dustin Poirier, allowing him to make it into the top five of the men’s pound-for-pound list. And Julianna Pena’s […]
UFC 269 medical suspensions: Sean O’Malley, 3 others facing potential six month terms
Sean O’Malley had a quick night at the office but could be sidelined until the middle of next year after suffering a right hand injury during his fight with Raulian Paiva at UFC 269 this past Saturday. O’Malley scored another ‘Performance of the Night’ awarded technical knockout after finishing Paiva with strikes in the final […]
Amanda Nunes accepts Julianna Pena’s rematch offer after UFC 269
Julianna Pena was still getting acquainted with the UFC women’s bantamweight title when she offered a rematch to Amanda Nunes, the woman she took the belt from on Saturday night. “We can do it next, I’m free next month, two months from now – whenever they want to do it I’m ready. If she wants […]
Mookie & Crookie Show 149: O’Malley to get better money, UFC 269 recap
Welcome to ‘The Mookie & Crookie Show’, a spinoff of ‘The Level Change Podcast’ that goes a little more in-depth on major combat sports news, as well as takes a humorous look at the crazy world of combat sports social media. The show is hosted by Mookie Alexander and Stephie Haynes and airs every Tuesday. […]
Covington: Charles Oliveira’s UFC 269 win ‘de-legitimizes’ Khabib’s legacy
To this day, many consider the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov as a lightweight GOAT. But after his win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 on Saturday, a number of people are now taking notice of reigning UFC 155-pound king Charles Oliveira. “Do Bronx” may not be undefeated, but he holds several records of his own. And […]
Retirement? Dustin Poirier has cryptic message after UFC 269 loss
Dustin Poirier fell short of claiming the UFC lightweight title this past weekend at UFC 269. He was stopped in the third round of the main event by Charles Oliveira. This was Poirier’s second shot at the title. The first was in 2019, opposite Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ won that match-up by rear naked choke. […]
Dominick Cruz only regrets where he said Cormier comments, blames media that ‘twist’ facts
Former champion Dominick Cruz made some noteworthy comments during the lead-up of his UFC 269 fight with Pedro Munhoz last week. Cruz, who is also a color commentator for the UFC, said he would usually mute the broadcast whenever fellow analyst Daniel Cormier was on the booth. Cormier and Cruz later talked face-to-face and everything […]
Chandler slams Dustin Poirier’s UFC 269 performance; Pitbull roasts him in response
At UFC 269 this weekend Dustin Poirier fell short of the lightweight title for the second time in his career. In Saturday’s main event ‘The Diamond’ succumbed to Charles Olieveira, losing to the UFC’s all-time leader in submission wins by rear naked choke. Poirier had his moments in the title fight, knocking the champion down. […]
Gillian Robertson says she felt two ‘pretty clear’ eye gouges from Priscila Cachoeira at UFC 269
Gillian Robertson was on the receiving end of some of the most blatant eye gouges in recent memory, but ‘The Savage’ took them in stride and had no issue with Priscila Cachoeira for her egregious defense tactics. The fight between Robertson and Cachoeira served as the opener for the early preliminary portion of UFC 269 […]
‘Fans come to watch me knock people out and do f-ing shoeys’ – Tai Tuivasa had bone to pick with pushy UFC 269 security
There’s no doubt about it, Australia’s Tai Tuivasa is on a serious hot streak. Following back-to-back-to-back losses in 2018-19, ‘Bam Bam’ has breathed new life into his Octagon career—rattling off four straight victories, the latest of which he picked up over Augusto Sakai this last weekend. But, if crushing power has been the key to […]
UFC 269 Reactions & UFC Vegas 45 Picks | Care/Don’t Care Podcast
It’s time for another one of our infamous and patented Care/Don’t Care Podcasts, with your talent: the astounding Eugene S. Robinson, author of the ‘Eugene S. Robinson Substack’, the fight book: “Fight: Everything You Wanted to Know About Ass-Kicking but Were Afraid You’d Get Your Ass Kicked for Asking”, host of the ‘Eugene S. Robinson […]
Dana White discusses what’s next for Charles Oliveira, which opponent ‘makes sense’
Charles Oliveira impressed over the weekend at UFC 269, proving—beyond a shadow of a doubt—that he deserves to wear the UFC lightweight belt. ‘Do Bronx’ did this by surviving adversity against Dustin Poirier before storming back and tapping the Diamond with a rear naked choke. The win was Oliveira’s first defence of a title he […]
Conor McGregor asks when ‘am I fighting Oliveira?’
Former UFC lightweight champ Conor McGregor took some time out from rehabbing the leg he fractured at UFC 264 to tweet out a challenge at current champ Charles Oliveira. Oliveira had just submitted McGregor nemesis Dustin Poirier at Saturday’s UFC 269 lightweight title bout. McGregor took his second loss to Poirier in July, breaking his […]
MMA SQUARED: Understanding UFC 269’s two title fights through The 5 Stages of Grief
I was in such shock after Amanda Nunes’ loss that I could barely focus on the main event as it started. Chris Rini I’m still kinda stunned. UFC 269 was an excellent event that propelled career trajectories, some for better others for worse. Gut wrenching losses for Dustin Poirier and Cody Garbrandt, a shocking evolution […]
Six unanswered questions from UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier
Charles Oliveira answered questions about his legitimacy as UFC lightweight champion when he defeated Dustin Poirier via submission in the main event of UFC 269. Julianna Pena silenced many doubters when she took the UFC women’s bantamweight title from Amanda Nunes via submission in the co-headlining bout on Saturday. But the event, which took place […]
UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier – Unofficial Awards
The biggest upsets always seem to occur when no one expects it. Matt Serra was merely a TUF winner and that would be all he would be heading into his contest with Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69. Holly Holm was being pushed too quickly into her bout with Ronda Rousey, so she was supposed to […]
UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier – Fights to make
UFC 269: A truly special night of fights. One of the UFC’s most dominant and seemingly unbeatable champions fell to a challenger few, if any, gave much of a hope. An unlikely lightweight title holder picked up the first title defense of his career. And Sean O’Malley continued his run as one of the UFC’s […]