Tag: nEWS
The Rock Shares 2:30 A.M. ‘Burning Superset Workout’: ‘Stretch & Elongate Those Lat Fibers’
Hollywood sensation Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has a packed schedule but never fails to get a workout in no matter the time. In a recent post made on Instagram, Johnson shared a brutal 2:30 A.M. workout session along with an intense superset routine. The Rock first gained attention for his humongous frame and athletic abilities…
Jon Jones Appears To Retract Peace Offering To Daniel Cormier Following UFC 285
One of the interesting takeaways from the recently concluded UFC 285 event, where Jon Jones locked in GOAT status by making quick work of Ciryl Gane, was his purported interaction with arch-nemesis Daniel Cormier.
Cormier was on commentary for the actual event, and even during fight week, much was made about a the two doing an interview together. Although that never came to fruition, Cormier did reveal that he had a phone call with Jones during the fighter meetings to gain a better understanding of how he was going to approach the fight.For his part, Jon Jones had also offered an olive branch in the lead up to the contest, publicly endorsing Daniel Cormier’s professionalism in the commentary desk. Cormier also responded in kind, saying that it ‘feels nice’ to hear Jones’ endorsement of his commentary skills.
However, it would appear that Jones has now retracted his peace offering in one of his latest Tweets.In a Twitter Q& A that he conducted, Jones had this response to a fan who noticed Daniel Cormier’s less-than-animated reaction to his UFC 285 win.
“My man couldn’t even pretend to smile, it was pretty funny. Asking what happened, an experience(d) former champion and analyst suddenly not being able to identify a guillotine,” said Jones.
My man couldn’t even pretend to smile, it was pretty funny. Asking what happened, an experience former champion and analyst suddenly not being able to identify a guillotine. ? https://t.co/dgqcqdCO34— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 9, 2023
To place this in context, Daniel Cormier is generally known for his over-the-top, effervescent reactions when he’s on commentary. In contract, his reaction to Jones’ win was rather subdue – a fact that seemingly hasn’t escaped the attention of the UFC heavyweight champion either.
You can watch Cormier’s Octagon-side reaction below:
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Jon Jones Claims Francis Ngannou Left The UFC To Avoid Fighting Him
In another Tweet during the same Q& A, Jones was also less-than-complimentary of his predecessor, Francis Ngannou.
UFC 270 in January 2022 was Ngannou’s last UFC outing, when he outpointed Ciryl Gane in a close contest. ‘The Predator’ has since been released from his UFC contract as he could not come to terms with the organization.
Jones, however, feels that Ngannou had another reason for leaving. Replying to a fan who asked him if a potential fight against Francis Ngannou would be possible in the future, Jones had this to say.“I highly doubt it, especially after that first performance [at UFC 285]. Like I said, the dude left for a reason. Came up with every demand and request in the world. He knew that the UFC wasn’t going to bend, he found his way out.”
You can read more about Jones’ thoughts on Francis Ngannou here.
I highly doubt it, especially after that first performance. Like I said the dude left for a reason. Came up with every demand and request in the world. He knew that UFC wasn’t going to bend, he found his way out https://t.co/dxgr6D5v8g— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 9, 2023
How do you think a potential Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou super fight goes? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Brandon Gibson Provides Update On Aaron Pico’s Shoulder, Says He’ll Be Bellator Champion In 2023
Brandon Gibson has provided a positive update on the shoulder injury that Aaron Pico suffered in the first round of his last fight.
Pico was one of the most-hyped prospects in the history of MMA even before his first fight, but his pro career got off to an inauspicious start in 2017 when he was submitted by Zach Freeman in less than 30 seconds at Bellator NYC. The 26-year-old stopped his next four opponents before suffering a pair of knockout losses in 2019, and he rebounded from those results by embarking on a six-fight win streak that he carried into his most recent bout against UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 286.
A sizeable favorite heading into the matchup, things quickly took an ugly turn for Pico when his shoulder appeared to pop out of place early on in the fight with Kennedy. The 26-year-old survived the opening round and made it back to his corner, but the bout was called off after it was determined that Pico would be unable to continue.
Gibson Expects Pico To Be Bellator Champion In 2023
Gibson was in the corner at Bellator 286 and attempted to yank Pico’s shoulder back into place, but the noted striking coach recently told Ariel Helwani that his fighter should be returning to action in the near future.
Pico’s corner attempted to fix his shoulder at Bellator 286. (Esther Lin)
“He’s even better than he was,” Gibson said on The MMA Hour. “He needed that shoulder surgery, it was a long, lingering injury. It was unfortunate how that fight with Jeremy Kennedy goes, I cannot wait to run that back. That’s something that motivates me every single day. Aaron’s shoulder is stronger than ever, it’s actually scary. I’ve been having to really tape my wrists, his left hook has been so powerful and so fast. And also while he was rehabbing that left shoulder, and he just continued to polish every bit of his game. From them mental to the physical. Aaron Pico’s gonna win a world championship in 2023 for Bellator, I have no doubt in my mind Ariel. I’m gonna have – my two students are gonna my two champions by the end of this year.”
The other “student” Gibson referred to was Jon Jones, who returned to the cage after a three-year layoff at last weekend’s UFC 285. Making his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane, “Bones” showed very little ring rust and needed just over two minutes to secure a guillotine choke that crowned him as the UFC’s heavyweight champion.
That event’s main card also included the UFC debut of Bo Nickal, who is arguably the sport’s hottest prospect to come along since Pico. The 27-year-old secured his fourth first-round stoppage in as many pro bouts when he submitted Jamie Pickett, but the win did result in a bit of controversy.
What do you think of Gibson’s claim that Pico will be Bellator champion by the end of the year?
Please provide transcription credit with a link to this article if you use any of these quotes.
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Petr Yan Gives His Prediction For Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo
Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has provided his prediction for the expected next title fight in his division.
Ever since he recorded his second successful title defense last October at UFC 280, it’s been widely expected that Aljamain Sterling will welcome former two-division champion Henry Cejudo back to the Octagon next.
While there is still yet to be official confirmation of the bout, it appears to be all but finalized. And after reported showdowns in March and April didn’t come to fruition, both parties have named UFC 288 on May 6 as the likely date.
Ever since talk of the bout picked up, predictions and analysis have been consistently floated around the MMA community.
While some have cited Cejudo’s form prior to his 2020 retirement to support their view that “Triple C” is the man to dethrone “Funk Master,” others think the reigning champ will make it an unsuccessful comeback for the 2008 Olympic gold medalist.
Yan, a former two-time opponent of Sterling’s, sits in the latter group.
Yan Backs Former Opponent Sterling In Planned Next Defense
During his appearance at UFC Las Vegas media day on Wednesday ahead of his own return to the Octagon, Yan was asked for his take on the planned bantamweight showdown in New Jersey later this year.
Having shared the Octagon with Sterling on two separate occasions, feeling the full force of the champ’s grappling talents in their 2022 rematch, the Russian is well-placed to assess Sterling’s chances of victory.
And owing to Cejudo’s lengthy layoff, which will be three days short of three years should he return on May 6, “No Mercy” is giving Sterling good odds of a third successful retention.
“If this fight will (happen), I think Sterling will win,” Yan said before addressing whether Cejudo’s layoff will play a part in the result. “Yes, I think it’s gonna effect him. I don’t believe he’s gonna display his best shape.”
Before watching his division’s next championship bout, Yan has business to attend to this weekend. In the UFC Las Vegas main event, the Russian will look to return to the win column having gone 0-2 last year.
Given the controversial nature of his defeat to Sean O’Malley last October in Abu Dhabi, as well as the close nature of his rematch with “Funk Master” six months prior, it stands to reason that a victory over Merab Dvalishvili will thrust Yan straight back into contention.
Do you agree with Petr Yan’s prediction for Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo?
Please provide transcription credit with a link to this article if you use any of these quotes.
Former UFC Fighter Beats Stage 4 Cancer In A Year, Shows Off Incredible Body Transformation
Former UFC fighter and WEC title challenger Mike Swick has posted an update on his cancer diagnosis, revealing that he’s now “cancer free.”
Swick, who competed in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions during his UFC career, hung up his gloves in 2015 following consecutive losses to Matt Brown and Alex Garcia.
Prior to that, “Quick” had his hand raised 10 times inside the Octagon, in addition to challenging for the inaugural WEC middleweight gold in 2004.
Since his retirement, Swick has maintained his presence in the sport by running his own gym in Phuket. The facility, AKA Thailand, is connected to the American Kickboxing Academy headquarters in California.
Image: AKA Thailand
Early last year, Swick revealed troubling news. The MMA veteran announced that he was facing his “toughest and most aggressive battle” after being diagnosed with stage four leukemia lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow.
Despite the stage four characterization noting that Swick was battling an extremely aggressive form of the disease, the 43-year-old recently revealed that he’s won the fight.
Swick, Former UFC Contender, Shares Positive Update
This week, Swick took to social media to reveal some incredibly good news. Just over a year on from his diagnosis, the former UFC contender is cancer free.
In a post showing his physical transformation from his diagnosis to receiving the all-clear, Swick provided a motivational message in light of his recovery.
“43 and Cancer Free! As you can see by the photo, I didn’t wait around for the test results… Very positive I was gonna win this battle somehow. It can come back and I can always get it later in life but I will be much more prepared and ready and can at least always say no matter what, I kicked it’s ass!” Swick wrote. “As you can see from my timeline the last year, it didn’t slow me down. It was tough but keeping a positive mindset and not allowing it to change my life anymore than it had to was important and kept my stress down and life moving forward.
“Stage 4 of the most aggressive and deadly form of Lymphoma Leukemia. (It) was not an easy thing to hear so young and healthy but I been a fighter since I was a kid and accepted the challenge and knew this post would come one day. Literally from the day I took that first selfie, I couldn’t wait to post this,” Swick added.
Swick also addressed the hope that his story will inspire those suffering from similar circumstances, offering his support in any way possible and thanking those who’ve done the same for him.
“I hope it’s inspiring to anyone facing the same situation or similar and if you have any questions comment below or DM me,” Swick said. “Many have been fighting this with me and many will be successful and live full happy lives after! Anything I can do to help will just make me more happy! Thanks for all the support! It’s been amazing! Love you all!”
Paddy Pimblett’s Streak Of Dana White-Backing Ends With “Messy” Power Slap League
While he’s often been aligned with the view of promotional president Dana White, UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett has finally noted his disagreement with his boss on one topic.
Since arriving on MMA’s biggest stage in 2021, Pimblett has quickly risen to prominence courtesy of both his performances inside the Octagon and his personality outside it. But while some have been seen as entertaining, a number of the Liverpool native’s remarks have caused controversy.
That’s been most notable when it comes to Pimblett’s support of the UFC president. In the past, “The Baddy” has spoken out against those who criticize the promotion for its treatment and fighter pay. He also took a firm stance on MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, who’s had his fair share of back and forth with White in the past.
With that, Pimblett has displayed allegiance with the 53-year-old on numerous occasions. As it turns out, though, that’s not the case with everything.
Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
It’s taken one of the more polarizing discussions in recent times for a disagreement between Pimblett and White to be visible. And in this instance, “The Baddy” is certainly not on his own…
Pimblett On White’s Power Slap League: “It’s Just Crazy”
This weekend, the finale of the first Power Slap season will air from the UFC Apex. The show, which is the first mainstream instance of a slap fighting organization in North America, has caused a significant amount of controversy since it first aired in January.
Many have called out the activity, branding it an inevitable route to concussions and CTE given its elimination of any form of defense for competitors. White’s creation has drawn the ire of a number of prominent figures, including in the medical space.
Beyond that, fighters under White’s MMA banner have also questioned the ‘sport’, with the latest to do so being Pimblett. During a recent episode of his Chattin’ Pony podcast, the lightweight prospect noted that he won’t be watching Power Slap, which he branded “crazy.”
“I’m not into it, personally. They sign up for it (though), so it’s on them. If you wanna sign up for that lad, it’s on you. But I personally won’t be watching it. It’s mad,” Pimblett said before touching on an example of damage being done through slap fighting. “That was messy, the big heavyweights, and he won. (But) they both lost! Nobody won! … Whoever gets to go first (wins) You see that a lot… It’s just crazy, lad. It’s defenseless! You’re taking a shot defenseless with your hands behind your back!”
Pimblett’s comments came while in discussion with boxing star Ryan Garcia. Alongside UFC names like Aljamain Sterling and Stephen Thompson, “KingRy” has been an outspoken critic of the Power Slap league.
Pretty wild, honestly. I just don’t get it ??♂️— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) January 21, 2023
Do you agree with Paddy Pimblett’s take on Dana White’s Power Slap league?
Please provide transcription credit with a link to this article if you use any of these quotes.
Community Gyms Coalition Launches “Fitness Is Essential” Campaign
Following the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, some reports showed that gym memberships fell by nearly 40 percent, leading to an estimated $15.6 billion loss in revenue by October 2020.
In November 2020, the Community Gyms Coalition (CGC) — a collective of fitness outlets, including Anytime Fitness, CrossFit, Orangetheory Fitness, and Planet Fitness, which represent “more than 15,000 community gyms and fitness facilities across the US that serve over 25 million members” — was founded in an attempt to lobby Congress for financial relief in an unprecedented time.
It’s time for all Americans to recognize that Fitness is Essential.
On Feb. 21, 2023, the CGC announced the launch of the “Fitness is Essential” campaign as part of its commitments to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
Proud to collaborate with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health! #WHConfHungerHealth #fitnessisessential pic.twitter.com/SsSIx1pFNZ
— Community Gyms Coalition (@GymsCoalition) September 28, 2022
[Related: CrossFit Announces Partnership With Chipotle for 2023 Open]
Per their press release, the components of the campaign include education about the “positive effects of physical activity and fitness on mental health and well-being” and increased access to resources that include the following:
Free day passes at CGC members’ fitness facilities
Fitness goal and body intelligence consultations
The “Fitness is Essential” campaign intends to “reinforce the Department of Health and Human Services’ Move Your Way® campaign,” which aims to use the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans as a way to increase people’s physical activity levels and thereby lead healthier lifestyles.
“CGC members will raise awareness with community leaders and policymakers about steps they can take to encourage physical activity and fitness in communities across the country,” according to the CGC press release.
Since its founding, the CGC has been effective at a legislative level in helping gyms recover from the financial losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic. The congressional Gym Mitigation and Survival (GYMS) Act of 2021 was introduced on Feb. 5, 2021, by U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05, Democrat) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01, Republican) and garnered 164 co-sponsors.
The GYMS Act was subsequently sponsored by senator Tammy Duckworth (IL, Democrat) and introduced to the Senate on May 13, 2021, when it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. It has 29 co-sponsors in the Senate at the time of this article’s publication.
Don’t take your health for granted. Get healthy by getting fit! #fitnessisessential https://t.co/k5Dm0SygRd
— Community Gyms Coalition (@GymsCoalition) February 21, 2023
The GYMS Act of 2021 “authorizes the Small Business Administration to make initial and supplemental grants to privately owned fitness facilities that primarily provide health or fitness services,” without exceeding $25 million to any recipient to help pay for business expenses.
FitnessisEssential.org serves as the campaign’s “central hub for public outreach,’ which aims to “raise awareness about why fitness is essential for overall physical and mental health.”
Featured image: @GymsCoalition on Twitter
2023 CrossFit Open — Workout 23.2 Released
The second week of the 2023 CrossFit Open has arrived, and with it, the release of workout 23.2. The live announcement occurred in Midland Park, NJ, at CrossFit Bison. It featured 2022 CrossFit Games runner-up Roman Khrennikov‘s head-to-head battle against 2021 CrossFit Games runner-up Patrick Vellner.
Workout 23.2 is comprised of two parts. Part A combines burpee pull-ups and shuttle runs, and Part B is a one-rep max thruster. Find each division’s variation of the workout via the links below:
23.2 CrossFit Open Workouts
Check out the live announcement in the video below, courtesy of the CrossFit Games Youtube channel, followed by a breakdown of each division’s variation of workout 23.2:
[Related: CrossFit Announces Partnership With Chipotle for 2023 Open]
Rx’d
23.2A:
Complete as many reps as possible in 15 minutes of:
Five burpees
10 shuttle runs (One rep = 25 feet out/25 feet back)
Add five burpees after each round.
23.2B:
Immediately following 23.2A, athletes will have five minutes to establish the following:
One-rep-max thruster (from the floor)
Each athlete’s score will be their max thruster in pounds.
[Related: How To Train Your Back For Maximum Hypertrophy]
Scaled
23.2A:
Complete as many reps as possible in 15 minutes of:
Five burpees
10 shuttle runs (One rep = 25 feet out/25 feet back)
Add five burpees after each round.
23.2B:
Immediately following 23.2A, athletes will have five minutes to establish the following:
One-rep-max thruster (from the floor)
Each athlete’s score will be their max thruster in pounds.
Foundations
23.2A:
Complete as many reps as possible in 15 minutes of:
Five burpees
10 shuttle runs or walks (one rep = 50 feet)
Add five burpees after each round.
23.2B:
Immediately following 23.2A, athletes will have five minutes to establish the following:
One-rep-max thruster for best technique and load.
Time begins immediately following the completion of 23.2A. Start with the stick and only add load if the technique is sound. If performing this workout without a coach, err on the side of safety and don’t worry about adding load as you go.
[Related: How to Do the Dumbbell Split Squat for Bigger Legs and Better Balance]
Adaptive Divisions
There are eight Adaptive Divisions in the CrossFit Open, which all have their own variations and movement standards.
These divisions are: Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Multi-Extremity, Vision, Short Stature, Seated Athletes (With Hip Function), Seated Athletes (Without Hip Function), and Intellectual. As with Individual and Age Groups, each division has a women’s and men’s division.
For division-specific details about the expectations for each division, check out the division workout descriptions and scorecards on the CrossFit Games website.
More CrossFit Content
Featured image: @pvellner on Instagram
2023 Masters Olympia
ATHLETE PARTICIPATION CRITERIAAge Requirements:40 years of age or older for:Men’s Classic PhysiqueMen’s PhysiqueWomen’s FitnessWomen’s FigureWomen’s BikiniWomen’s PhysiqueWomen’s Wellness45 years of age or older for:Men’s BodybuildingMen’s 212 BodybuildingWomen’s BodybuildingParticipation:Participation is based on individual application.Application letters must include:Athlete background (age, country, titles)Competitive history (including last contest)Social media accountsApplication letters may include:Video (not longer than one minute)Photographs of your actual shapeApplication Deadline:April 10, 2023The list of selected athletes will be published on April 24, 2023.Please send your application letter to [email protected].
Breon Ansley Maximizes His Leg Sessions by Attacking Them With High Energy
As the 2022 Olympia weekend on Dec. 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, approaches, two-time former Classic Physique Olympia champion Breon Ansley anticipates bringing the best package of his career to the stage for his final appearance in the division. Following the Olympia, the 43-year-old Ansley plans to move into the 212 division.
To present his best physique to date — meaning more muscle mass and tighter conditioning — Ansley’s strategy for workouts during his prep has been to attack them with high energy from the jump. Diving into his training aggressively rather than passively enables Ansley to squeeze more potential out of each workout. Check out Ansley’s leg session from Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA, in the video below, published on his YouTube channel on Nov. 28, 2022:
[Related: Four-Time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Crushes an 11-Exercise Shoulder and Triceps Workout at 49 Years Old]
Ansley’s leg session in the video above occurred four weeks and one day out from the 2022 Olympia. He opened the workout with a warm-up consisting of single-leg extensions.
Set the tone right off the bat and don’t look back.
Although he didn’t specify the number of sets he performed on the leg extension machine, Ansley appeared to take each set to failure with a progressive overload methodology. He continued his unilateral training on the leg press. Ansley spotted his working leg with his resting leg to achieve maximum flexion and a clean lockout to keep the load heavy. Based on his foot placement towards the middle-lower section of the platform, Ansley biased his quads with each rep.
[Related: Brett Wilkin Wins 2022 Big Man Weekend Pro Bodybuilding Show]
Ansley’s third movement was weighted Bulgarian split squats. He posted one leg on a weight bench and held one 35-pound dumbbell in his hand adjacent to his working leg. The pacing of Ansley’s reps was highly measured. If you turn the video to two-time-speed, it still appears his movement is slow and controlled.
Each rep involves Ansley reaching maximum knee flexion with a forward tilt of his torso to train his glute in the fully lengthened position. If he kept his torso upright, he would bias the quads more than the glutes.
Stiff-leg Romanian dumbbell deadlifts were up next with a five-three tempo per rep — five-second eccentric and three-second concentric. The dumbells moved at a slight angle along Ansley’s legs rather than directly in front. This relieves pressure off Ansley’s lower back and falls more naturally in line with his structure. His flexibility was on display as each rep saw the dumbbell handles nearly touch the tops of his feet.
To remove his grip as a limiting factor, Ansley used lifting straps to increase the load with each set progressively. His final set was with a pair of 85-pound dumbbells.
Moving on to hamstrings, lying leg curls followed the deadlifts. He braced tightly to the pad to prevent his hips from rising, which would relieve tension from his hamstrings. He closed the workout with seated calf raises.
Ansley mentioned that he recognizes how much more developed his legs appear this season than last season. We’ll see if that added mass can convert a record-tying third Classic Physique Olympia title for him before the holidays.
Featured image: @breonma_ on Instagram