Spinning Back Clique: Amanda Nunes retirement fallout, chasing history at Bellator 297, more (noon ET)
Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and Farah Hannoun will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:
- UFC dual women’s champion Amanda Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female fighter in history, announced her retirement this past Saturday after a sixth bantamweight title defense at UFCC 289. Is it the right time for the 35-year-old Brazilian to walk away, and what will the fallout be for the women’s 135- and 145-pound divisions?
- Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira rebounded from his title loss to champion Islam Makhachev for a big knockout of Beneil Dariush in the UFC 289 co-main event in Vancocuver. Did his win set up a title rematch, or should the Dustin Poirier-Justin Gaethje winner leapfrog him?
- Bellator has one of the biggest events in its history Friday in Chicago. At Bellator 297, Vadim Nemkov puts the light heavyweight title on the line against Yoel Romero. But the big one is featherweight champ Patricio Freire’s attempt to take the bantamweight title from Sergio Pettis. A win would be a title in a third division for Freire. Let’s look ahead to the two big ones and what it means in the big picture.
- After a report that the UFC pulled in more than $1 billion in revenue in 2022, fighters like middleweight champ Israel Adesanya are joining the call for better fighter pay, including a raise in post-fight bonuses from $50,000. Is the whole fighter pay conversation a pointless one, though?
- Former UFC dual champion Conor McGregor, a lightning rod for controversy and headlines, made more of both when he knocked out the Miami Heat’s mascot in a pre-planned mid-game sponsor skit and sent him to the hospital. How much of the bizarre incident is McGregor’s fault?
