MMA

Lucie Bertaud interview: ‘It’s not a man’s world

Published

5 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Lucie Bertaud interview: 'It's not a man's world

Lucie Bertaud is accustomed to fighting for her right to be visible in boxing, mixed martial arts and even as a presenter on television through her role on a combat sports channel in France. Now, finally, having become a mixed martial arts fighter six years ago, she realises her dream to compete in Paris as MMA makes its debut under the Bellator banner there on Saturday night.

To say that Bertaud is excited is an overstatement for the 35-year-old from Thouars, who faces Maguy Berchel in the preliminary fight card which will shown around the world, on the BBC, Channel 5 and on CBS Sports in the USA. It is a huge moment for the woman who came to MMA late after a career in boxing.

“I think I am the proof you can do whatever you want in your life. When I started boxing, they told me I couldn’t be a champion,” explained the flyweight fighter, who has competed in boxing against the likes of Katie Taylor.

“I became a champion. When I started journalism they told me I couldn’t do anything in journalism and I did. I was a pioneer in that because I was covering combat sport and there were no women in that. I was proud to be a commentator and broadcaster. When I was boxer, we would produce these amazing performances at a high level and nobody would care. There was no media there.

“I decided to become a commentator just so I could promote it myself. I wanted to show we were undiscovered heroes. I knew there was potential and I like to be at the beginning of something. I kept going in this MMA field and I fell in love. I wanted to show people I could be great in that as I was in boxing. It takes time and sometimes you need to overcome struggles. Out of the comfort zone, you start to evolve. I want it because I know I will evolve.”

The struggle to get MMA legalised in France was a long one. And Bertaud was deeply involved. “We had to fight a lot to make this possible. In the current context, the issues were very complicated to bring MMA in France. It was, for sure, political. I think now they’ve started to think this is a normal sport. As ambassadors of MMA, we are showing that. We are showing courage and respect and honour. What is wrong with that? Finally they have another point of view here in France. We are still fighting. We still have issues. We are making our way in France. We are making history. Definitely, we are coming and there’s nothing they can do.”

Women’s MMA is on a meteoric rise, too, and has been since the American Ronda Rousey became a global figurehead and pioneer six years ago. Does Bertaud feel the pressure of performing in front of crowd of 1,000, on home soil, for the first time ? “There’s always a lot of pressure before fighting. When you get in the cage you’re never quite sure how you’ll be when you get out again. Everything has just aligned. It’s not random for me. I will take heat. I will embrace it and feel it. I will remember this night my entire life so I will be the best version of myself. I just want to be the best possible for myself. I want a good ending to this story.”

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MMA

The best 20 UFC knockouts

Published

19 mins ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

Mixed Martial Arts is not for the faint-hearted, irrespective of whether you are fighting or watching.

Any UFC fighter worth their salt has been on the receiving end of a hefty blow or two – even Conor McGregor.

But what are the best-known knockouts? And who delivered them?

Here’s the top 20 in UFC history – decided by UFC itself.

Warning: the following video contains scenes viewers may find disturbing:

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MMA

What is UFC, what is MMA and what are the rules?

Published

39 mins ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

What is UFC, what is MMA and what are the rules?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, also known as UFC, has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and in the last few years increasingly caught the attention of fight fans in the UK, too.

But what is it, how was it formed and what are the rules?

Here’s our guide on what you need to know.

What is UFC?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mixed-martial arts promotion in which a series of fights take place around the world, also known as fight nights. It calls itself the “premier organisation in MMA”.

Mixed martial arts, of course, is nothing new dating back more than 5,000 years.

But UFC brings together some of the world’s best mixed martial artists, fighting each other at different weights with a main event taking place once a month. There are more than 40 events each year.

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Football

'Schillaci was a man who lived for goals'

Published

41 mins ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

'Schillaci was a man who lived for goals'

Italian football expert Mina Rzouki remembers Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci, who has died aged 59.

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MMA

Conor McGregor ‘to address US Congress in rights campaign for MMA fighters’

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

Conor McGregor 'to address US Congress in rights campaign for MMA fighters'

There have also been complaints about lower-ranked UFC fighters being awarded title bouts simply based on their ability to sell television pay-per-view subscriptions, which is a core element of the UFC’s income in the United States.

Despite losing in the 10th round against Mayweather, McGregor has indicated that he may box again, and a handful of other UFC fighters have expressed an interest in lucrative one-off boxing bouts.

Legal experts have been discussing in the media whether McGregor is now a boxer in the eyes of the law, and thus entitled to the protection of the Act, or if he will lose that protection when he returns to the UFC.

FIGHTER SAFETY

Epstein told Reuters that the UFC does extensive work on fighter safety and welfare and is as transparent as possible when it comes to contracts.

He rejected the notion that match-making based on independent rankings could improve the sport.

“We have been successful for one reason and one reason only – we put on the fights the fans want to see,” Epstein explained.

“That’s where we have a problem with what Congressman Mullin wants to do.”

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MMA

Michael Bisping ridicules Georges St-Pierre's prospects of UFC victory in New York

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

Michael Bisping ridicules Georges St-Pierre's prospects of UFC victory in New York

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Michael Bisping has ridiculed Georges St-Pierre’s ability to make the step up in weight ahead of their UFC middleweight championship bout next month.

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Football

Martin Odegaard: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says captain’s ankle injury ‘quite significant’

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

NewsAdmin

Martin Odegaard: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says captain's ankle injury 'quite significant'

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says captain Martin Odegaard has suffered a “quite significant” ankle ligament injury.

The midfielder limped off during Norway’s Nations League win over Austria on Monday, 9 September.

Odegaard had gone down in pain after hurting his left ankle following a foul by Christoph Baumgartner midway through the second half.

He returned to Arsenal for an MRI scan and missed his side’s 1-0 win at Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday.

“The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle so we are going to miss him,” said Gunners boss Arteta before his side play Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday.

“It’s something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months.”

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