Spinning Back Clique: Mackenzie Dern’s UFC title hopes, Bo Nickal’s first UFC test, more
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Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.
Our panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn, and Danny Segura discuss five topics with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.
Former Penn State wrestling standout and blue-chip MMA prospect Bo Nickal officially signed with the UFC last week after going 2-0 on this season of Dana White’s Contender Series, and he didn’t waste any time in booking his first promotional fight. Nickal is set to debut against Jamie Pickett on Dec. 10 at UFC 282. Is this the type of matchup you wanted for Nickal after he called our Khamzat Chimaev, or should the UFC have pushed him higher?
When Mackenzie Dern entered the UFC in 2018, there were high expectations given her decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu pedigree (she’d even received early Ronda Rousey comparisons). While she’s worked her way into the strawweight top five, her loss to Yan Xiaonan this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 211 was her second to a top contender in her past three fights. Four years into her UFC tenure, do you still believe Dern will meet expectations and win a UFC title?
A.J. McKee, who won a barnburner of a fight against Spike Carlyle this past Saturday at Bellator 286, told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn in the lead-up to the fight that he would gladly welcome Nate Diaz to Bellator with a Long Beach slap. Diaz, of course, is a soon-to-be free agent who will garner plenty of interest from around the combat sports world. Does Diaz signing with Bellator, along with a fight against McKee, interest you?
News broke last week that former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez amicably has parted ways with ONE Championship after just four fights. He said he has meetings with almost every big player in MMA lined up. What’s the best option for the 38-year-old?
PFL announced the date and location for its championship event, which will take place Nov. 25 at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. This is the conclusion of their 2022 season, where six new champions will be crowned. For the first time in the promotion’s three-season history, this card is on pay-per-view, although details have not been released. Is this the right call? If so, put a price tag on it.
“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Tuesday on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch the full episode in the video above.