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Johnny Eblen dislikes Donald Cerrone MMA return after using steroids: ‘Conor paved the way’

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5 hours ago

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Johnny Eblen dislikes Donald Cerrone MMA return after using steroids: ‘Conor paved the way’

Johnny Eblen is the latest fighter to criticize the “Cowboy” comeback.

Longtime UFC veteran Donald Cerrone recently announced he plans to come out of retirement in pursuit of being the first fighter to log 50 in-cage appearances across the UFC and WEC. His return has been met with criticism from several of his peers, especially given that Cerrone has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while out of competition.

Eblen was asked about an existing issue with Cerrone and he explained that he doesn’t approve of Cerrone fighting again.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea to retire, take a bunch of steroids and then come back and fight again,” Eblen said, speaking to the media at the PFL Battle of the Giants on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “It’s not a good look. I think Conor [McGregor] paved the way, I think he’s influencing a lot of other people to do it, and I think people are trying to fight past their prime and use all these substances and it’s just not natural, it’s not good.

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“Your brain doesn’t heal from steroids. So all that CTE just adds up. I’m very against steroids, I’m very against people fighting past their prime.”

Cerrone turned 41 this past March. It is not yet known if the UFC will accept his request to step into the octagon again, but UFC CEO Dana White shared his opinion on the matter saying, “Love him, hate that.”

As far as Conor McGregor goes, while the former two-division champion has noticeably bulked up at various points during his break from competition dating back to July 2021, he has never officially failed a drug test. After injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, McGregor was subsequently removed from the drug-testing pool until he began being tested again in October 2023.

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MMA

UFC flyweight Charles Johnson calls out Kai Kara-France, Manel Kape

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2 mins ago

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October 21, 2024

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Johnson plans bonus-winning finish of Mudaerji at UFC Fight Night 245

LAS VEGAS – Charles Johnson is calling for a step up in competition.

Now on a four-fight winning streak, Johnson (17-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is hoping to get one of the bigger names in the flyweight division – Kai Kara-France or Manel Kape. This request comes after Johnson defeated Su Mudaerji (16-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in a unanimous decision on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245.

“I would love to fight a Kai – not Asakura, but the other one: Kara-France,” Johnson said at the UFC Fight Night 245 post-fight press conference. “I would love to fight a Manel Kape. I would love to fight those guys in the top eight. I think I’ve done enough to show I’m ready for that.”

Johnson is hoping the UFC pushes him more in opportunity and promotion. He believes he could make big noise at 125 pounds, a division needed of big names.

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“It feels like I’m getting every undefeated guy, every tough challenge before I get that opportunity and I just want to show them I’m an American, I can talk, I’ve got the swag,” Johnson said. “I’ve got everything this weight class needs. Y’all need somebody to market? These guys can’t speak English. Just because they’re foreign, I’ve got nothing against them. But they don’t know how to market themselves. Nobody is talking. … I just think I’m in a prime position to take over and do what needs to be done to make this a weight class people are excited about.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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Francis Ngannou admits camp break down, second thoughts on fight week

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24 mins ago

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October 21, 2024

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Battle of the Giants photos

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Fight week wasn’t smooth for Francis Ngannou, nor was the fight camp for his return to MMA.

The former UFC champion has experienced a ton personally and professionally since leaving the promotion early in 2022.

Some things were great. Ngannou (18-3) landed a lucrative contract with PFL that allowed him the freedom to compete in boxing, and he did that twice against a pair of champion-level heavyweights. Even though he lost both fights, an event that occurred between the bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua nearly broke him.

Ngannou endured an unthinkable tragedy when his 15-month-old son Kobe died unexpectedly.

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For a while, Ngannou struggled to process everything. He didn’t know which direction he wanted to go in life. As the days passed and the healing process began, he found a purpose in competition. Now, he was doing it for Kobe.

While Ngannou found a purpose, the days before his return to MMA to face Renan Ferreira at PFL: Battle of the Giants were not without mental hurdles. He admits there were days in camp when he was overcome with emotions and even questioned whether he wanted to compete during fight week, yet that purpose kept him pushing forward.

“Sometimes, it’s good to just take it one at a time,” Ngannou said in his dressing room after the fight. “Some days are tougher than others, and you just have to tell yourself, deal with this day, and tomorrow you will find out. Even when I came here in Riyadh, I landed on Thursday night. On Friday morning, I had a second thought about this fight because my rib was hurting so bad. We checked at the hospital and it was nothing, it was just a pain, but it was painful.

“Overall, during the camp, there was days that you break down, and get very emotional. You don’t want to keep going and you just give it a shot. It’s all about one foot at a time, let me see how it goes.”

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Ngannou’s process worked. He made it to the PFL’s cage 1,000 days after his previous MMA fight, when he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to defend the heavyweight title. His return didn’t last long. Just three and a half minutes was all it took to put Ferreira (13-4) out with punches.

“The Predator” is back, and now has a win in Saudi Arabia, where he lost both boxing bouts. However, the location of his emotional return wasn’t on his mind. It was all about Kobe, which he says meant more than his UFC title wins.

“I wasn’t thinking about it like having a win here in Riyadh, I was thinking about it just like a fight for my son,” Ngannou said. “Keeping my son in memory feels more better than everything. Make people remember him.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.

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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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‘UFC 308 Countdown’ video

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45 mins ago

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October 21, 2024

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‘UFC 308 Countdown’ video
UFC 298: Volkanovski v Topuria
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC 308 Countdown has arrived with a deeper look at the biggest fights taking place on Saturday from Abu Dhabi including the main event where Ilia Topuria puts his featherweight title on the line for the first time against former champion Max Holloway.

Undefeated in his career and coming off a devastating finish over Alexander Volkanovski in February, Topuria looks to add to his resume when he faces one of the best featherweights of all time. Since joining the UFC roster, Topuria has looked almost unstoppable but can he keep his momentum going against somebody like Holloway, who has never been finished with strikes and seemingly has a gas tank days.

Of course, Holloway seeks his second title reign at featherweight after coming up short in three past fights against Volkanovski. He earned this opportunity with a jaw-dropping finish over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 but afterwards his only desire was going back to 145 pounds to reclaim the title he lost.

In the co-main event, former champion Robert Whittaker looks to get back into title contention when he takes on undefeated mauler Khamzat Chimaev. Whittaker has scored back-to-back wins to put himself in this position but he faces a tall task from Chimaev, who might be one of the most hyped prospects in the history of the sport.

Check out the UFC 308 Countdown to get an inside look at these two crucial fights and more.

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Football

Tom Brady on Brock Purdy’s QB sneak TD: ‘That was pretty sick’ | NFL Highlights

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59 mins ago

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October 20, 2024

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Tom Brady on Brock Purdy



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Tom Brady weighed in on Brock Purdy’s quarterback sneak that lead to a touchdown to help the San Francisco 49er’s shrink their deficit against the Kansas City Chiefs.

26 MINS AGO・National Football League・0:16



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At 40, UFC veteran Darren Elkins in awe of his longevity in MMA

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2 hours ago

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October 20, 2024

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At 40, UFC veteran Darren Elkins in awe of his longevity in MMA

LAS VEGAS – At 40, Darren Elkins is still racking up wins in the premiere MMA promotion on the planet. Elkins has not only impressed fans with his longevity, but he’s also impressed himself.

“When I was the young me, the young, beginning UFC Darren, I’d always make fun of the old guys,” Elkins said at a post-fight news conference. “‘Oh this old guy still messing with them,’ and calling them old guys. I never thought I’d be 40 and still doing this, but man, am I glad I am.”

Elkins (29-11 MMA, 19-10 UFC) completed his 29th UFC performance this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 245. He defeated veteran Daniel Pineda (28-17 MMA, 5-8 UFC) in a hard-fought unanimous decision win that won him a Fight of the Night bonus.

This was also his first fight in 2024. With almost two decades of professional fighting, the once very active UFC featherweight is content with this current pace at this stage in his career.

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“I don’t like to go any more than two (fights),” Elkins said. “I had one last year and one this year. Last year I got hurt, this year I got hurt, I mean, which is fine. Both times I came back when ,my body was recovered, so one of two fights (a year). I shoot for two, but if I don’t get two, one is OK, too in my life. Now, I don’t have to be the guy that’s fighting every weekend anymore.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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Football

Weekly football quiz: Messi, Kane, red cards & records

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2 hours ago

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October 20, 2024

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Weekly football quiz: Messi, Kane, red cards & records



It is the weekly football quiz – how closely have you been paying attention over the past seven days?



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