Month: July 2023

Jul 28, 2023, 07:56 AM ET

Nate Diaz had just had his hand raised after ending a three-year absence from the Octagon with a rugged victory over Anthony Pettis in summer 2019. It was a crowd-pleasing performance, as Diaz’s fights typically are, and when he stepped to the microphone for an interview inside the cage, he had a message for someone in that crowd.

“Jorge Masvidal had a good last fight,” Diaz said, much to the delight of “Gamebred,” who was sitting cageside in Anaheim, California. “All respect to the man. There ain’t no gangsters in this game anymore. There ain’t nobody who does it right but me and him.”

Was this an homage? A callout? Diaz didn’t specify — until a few minutes later backstage, when another microphone was put in front of him and he was asked if he wanted to fight Masvidal.

“I’m going to defend the baddest motherf—er belt, the baddest motherf—er in the game belt, against who I believe is the other baddest motherf—er in the game,” Diaz said.

Lightweights Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje fight for the UFC’s BMF title.

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To that point, the UFC brass had not envisioned booking such a matchup. But the blunt Diazian logic, combined with the loud pop from the UFC 241 crowd after hearing the feisty name drop, made it a no-brainer. So the fight was made.

And by the time Diaz and Masvidal stepped toward each other to fight that November at Madison Square Garden in New York, the UFC had fully gotten into the spirit by putting up for grabs a silver BMF belt, created just for the occasion. Masvidal won by third-round doctor’s stoppage, and the shimmering strap was wrapped around him by one of the baddest men in Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

An off-the-wall concept had turned into an off-the-charts success, never to be repeated. Then again …

Surprise, surprise, the BMF belt will be on the line once again this Saturday in the main event of UFC 291 (10 p.m. on ESPN+ PPV), a rematch between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. It could very well turn out to be the fight of the year. These two showed in their first meeting in 2018 that they’re among the sport’s most heart-thumping action fighters.

Is that what makes someone a BMF? Or does it have more to do with how a fighter acts outside the cage? No one really knows, except Diaz, who dreamed up the concept, and Masvidal, who embraced it. Everyone else has an opinion, though, and those opinions vary greatly.

Our ESPN combat sports team bravely took a stab at ranking the truest BMFs in the history of MMA.

Men’s BMF results: Liddell and Lawler take top spot

Rank	Fighter	Points
T-1.	Chuck Liddell	13
T-1.	Robbie Lawler	13
3.	Jon Jones	11
T-4.	Jorge Masvidal	10
T-4.	Kimbo Slice	10
6.	Nate Diaz	6
T-7.	Nick Diaz	5
T-7.	Royce Gracie	5
T-9.	BJ Penn	4
T-9.	Kazushi Sakuraba	4

It’s not surprising Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell occupies the No. 1 spot. There have been a lot of fighters in the UFC who have embodied that “anytime, anywhere” approach to the sport, but at the end of the day, Liddell was the poster boy of that mentality. Anyone who was fortunate enough to watch Liddell compete, or has gone back to watch his career after the fact, knows this man didn’t care about fame or titles. He didn’t even care about money. All he wanted to do was fight.

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1:24

Relive the wins by Hughes and Liddell at UFC 52

On April 16, 2005, Matt Hughes retained his welterweight title vs. Frank Trigg and Chuck Liddell won the light heavyweight belt for the first time by knocking out Randy Couture. For more UFC, sign up here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.

He is the original face of the UFC, and a massive reason for its long-term success. The fact that Robbie Lawler received as many votes as Liddell is a testament to how highly regarded he is by our panel. Even though he’s a legend of the sport, his profile is not nearly as high as Liddell’s. Nevertheless, he tied Liddell in overall votes thanks to his body of work, which began in the UFC all the way back in 2002. There are many ways to assess a BMF. For Lawler, it’s the longevity and the no-nonsense, no-frills approach. It’s also simply how comfortable Lawler looked in the midst of some of the most epic fights this sport has ever seen. Nothing fazed this man. He is the epitome of someone you’d want watching your back in a dark alley. — Brett Okamoto

Women’s BMF results: Rousey stands alone

Rank	Fighter	Points
1.	Ronda Rousey	25
2.	Joanna Jedrzejczyk	21
3.	Amanda Nunes	20
4.	Cris Cyborg	18
5.	Valentina Shevchenko	8
T-6.	Jessica Andrade	4
T-6.	Rose Namajunas	4
8.	Angela Hill	2
T-9.	Julianna Peña	1
T-9.	Maycee Barber	1

The top five of this list might as well be a ranking of the best women’s fighters of all time, though perhaps they are out of order. This is different from the men’s list, which has some fighters who have durability and an exciting, all-action style but who maybe did not achieve the highest reaches of MMA greatness. Kimbo Slice is ranked, after all, and for as entertaining as he was to watch, no one would mistake him for being an elite MMA fighter.

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Rousey’s road to the UFC Hall of Fame

Ronda Rousey’s dominance in the UFC made her one of the most popular fighters in history. Now with WWE, Rousey joins the UFC Hall of Fame.

The women’s list, however, is made up mostly of the elite of the elite. That probably speaks to how new women’s MMA still is at the highest level. Women were brought into the UFC in 2013, long after the runs of several of the men’s competitors above. And the stars of the early days of women’s MMA in the UFC got there with a marked ruthlessness. Ronda Rousey took the world by storm, armbarring her way to become the first UFC women’s bantamweight champion.

After Rousey’s ground dominance, Joanna Jedrzejczyk brought striking to the forefront in the UFC’s women’s divisions, piecing up everyone who got in her way during her run as strawweight champion. She’d routinely leave opponents bloodied and bruised from a steady barrage of punches, elbows, knees and kicks. Jedrzejczyk’s 2020 fight with Zhang Weili was the best in women’s MMA history. Some fans have even dubbed her “Joanna Violence.” Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg both got to the top by physically dominating opponents, usually leading to brutal knockouts unseen before in women’s MMA. Meanwhile, Valentina Shevchenko’s brand of BMF has always been more of the cold, calculated and surgical variety. — Marc Raimondi

Historical acknowledgment of former BMFs

Royce Gracie, left, competed in the first-ever UFC event at UFC 1 in November 1993. Photo by Holly Stein/Getty Images

The early days of MMA sometimes pitted one martial art against another, but often the action inside the cage looked more like a toughman contest. Back then, the sport was littered with brawny brawlers whose personas evoked not a dojo but a dark alley.

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None of them could rattle Royce Gracie, who for the first four UFC one-night tournaments in 1993 and ’94 was the one doing the intimidating, despite being barely 170 pounds with a baby face. He would march to the Octagon as part of a Gracie train, a grim procession of brothers and cousins and uncles, all wearing white gis and stoic scowls, their hands resting on the shoulders of the Gracie in front of them.

Then there was Kimbo Slice, who built a reputation for violence in Miami backyards in the early 2000s, fighting bare-knuckle bouts that made him a YouTube sensation. Kimbo eventually made his mark in MMA, both as a fighter and as the street-fight promoter who helped make the world aware of a BMF hall of famer, Masvidal. (There’s not really a BMF hall of fame, of course, but the BMF belt itself has no concrete meaning either, right?)

If you’re talking about old-time BMFs, you have to include BJ Penn — who else would lick an opponent’s blood off of his glove? And Cris Cyborg is the women’s BMF GOAT. She has been intimidating opponents for 18 years, with her icy stare and her rock-hard fists. And at age 38, she’s still an active fighter. So watch out. — Jeff Wagenheim

Who should be the next men’s BMF fight?

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Max Holloway, Arnold Allen put on classic in main event

Max Holloway and Arnold Allen put on a show in front of UFC fans in Kansas City.

The belt needs some continuity. If the UFC is going to bring back what was supposed to be a one-off novelty title, let’s do it the right way. Either Poirier or Gaethje will win the belt Saturday, and then it should be defended. The stipulation should be that there is no weight class attached, which would make it completely unique compared to other championships and also stay within the spirit of the name. Bouts could even be at agreed-upon catchweights. This fight is at lightweight, but if the winner wants to defend it at welterweight — perhaps against someone like a returning Diaz — he should be able to do that.

My pick for the winner at UFC 291 would be a fight against Max Holloway, if he beats “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung next month. Poirier and Holloway have fought before, and it was a war completely befitting the BMF title. Gaethje vs. Holloway would be phenomenal. The BMF belt has a great brand and could be another marketing tool for the UFC that can headline pay-per-view events. It would also be an opportunity to highlight elite, exciting fighters like Holloway who might not necessarily be in a title conversation at this point. — Raimondi

Who should be in the first women’s BMF fight?

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Rose Namajunas grinds out hard-fought title defense in rematch vs. Zhang Weili

Rose Namajunas defends her title successfully at Madison Square Garden with a hard-fought split-decision victory at UFC 268.

Unfortunately, many of the top female BMFs have already hung up their gloves. If there was a way to somehow book Rousey vs. Cyborg, that would probably be your answer, for pure nostalgia alone. That potential matchup tantalized women’s MMA for years before it became clear it would never happen.

As things stand today, the most appropriate women’s BMF fight would likely be Shevchenko vs. Rose Namajunas. It’s not a perfect matchup by any stretch, and it’s worth noting the two are very friendly toward each other. They are also both coming off losses. But Shevchenko’s lifestyle screams BMF. Not only is she good at MMA, she seems like someone you’d want to team up with in an actual world apocalypse. And Namajunas has had countless BMF moments over the course of her career — including her 2017 upset knockout of Jedrzejczyk, the original strawweight boogeywoman.

What’s nice about the women’s side is that even though the UFC has never formally promoted a women’s BMF fight, many of the options that would qualify we have already seen, including Rousey vs. Nunes, Nunes vs. Shevchenko, Nunes vs. Cyborg and Jedrzejczyk vs. Shevchenko. — Okamoto

Jul 26, 2023, 09:55 PM ET

The 2023 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

What does Shohei Ohtani’s future look like with the Los Angeles Angels? Could Marcus Stroman, Cody Bellinger and Lucas Giolito be dealt to contenders? And which of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants will go all-in to boost their 2023 World Series hopes?

Whether your favorite club is looking to add or deal away — or stands somewhere in between — here’s the freshest intel we’re hearing, reaction to completed deals and what to know for every team as trade season unfolds.

Trade grades: Report card for every major deal | Passan’s deadline preview

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Buzz | Trade tracker | Analysis

MLB trade deadline buzz

July 26 updates

Angels making moves: Word spread late Wednesday that the Angels had essentially pulled Shohei Ohtani off the trade market, largely because they want to contend for the playoffs. And then the Angels proved it almost immediately — by acquiring starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez for Edgar Quero and Ky Bush, two premium prospects. The Angels have put everything into winning this season. That continues.–Alden Gonzalez

Marlins looking to reel in Tim Anderson? Yankees casting wider net beyond Cody Bellinger? The Marlins are looking at White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who has finally gotten hot. He still ranks last in OPS among all qualified hitters, but his approach at the plate after the All-Star break has been much better. Anderson is hitting balls to right field again; that’s when he is at his best. Miami ranks 25th in OPS at shortstop — still ahead of the White Sox — but Anderson is a more proven commodity than anyone the Marlins employ. A change of scenery and a smaller market could do him some good, as well.

If Cody Bellinger is off the market, the Yankees might turn to Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson or Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario as they attempt to fill a void from the left side of the batter’s box. Candelario would be a solid defensive addition at third base. — Jesse Rogers

Too many starters available? This deadline favors teams with players to deal, in general. But one executive noted the volume of teams searching for starting pitchers who are under team control beyond 2023 — and he wonders whether all of the teams looking to move rental starting pitchers (impending free agents) will find trade partners. Among the available starting pitchers who could be free agents this fall: Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Rich Hill, Marcus Stroman, Eduardo Rodriguez, Carlos Carrasco, Jose Quintana, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery, Michael Lorenzen and Brad Keller. — Buster Olney

Don’t expect a McCutchen trade: Andrew McCutchen is a free agent at season’s end and might normally be considered a possible trade target. But in this case, there seems to be an understanding between the player and team that he’ll remain with the Pirates through the 2023 season, in a continuation of what has been a strong reunion. — Olney

July 25 updates

Dodgers bring back Hernandez in deal with Red Sox. The Los Angeles Dodgers, in search of depth throughout their infield, reached a deal to reacquire Enrique Hernandez from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, sources told ESPN. Grades

The Dodgers have more work to do: The Dodgers’ acquisition of super-utilityman Enrique Hernandez “doesn’t preclude us from exploring other right-handed bats,” general manager Brandon Gomes said Tuesday.

A right-handed hitter is still a main target for the Dodgers, along with help for both their rotation and their bullpen. The versatility throughout their roster — Hernandez, Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts can all play the infield and the outfield — allows them to not be beholden to specific positions while pursuing offensive help.

Adding Hernandez could free the Dodgers up to use current major leaguers in a trade — but they might have to wait on that. Trade talks, Gomes said, have been slow-moving with so many teams undecided on being adders or subtractors. Most of the action might wait until the final day or two. — Alden Gonzalez

Will Yankees go after Bellinger … or another outfielder? Scouts who have watched the Yankees over the past couple of weeks believe this team is more than a piece or two away — even if one of those pieces is Aaron Judge. But if there is one need the front office would like to address before the trade deadline, it’s in the outfield, a notably thin area even with Judge on the verge of returning from his foot injury.

Cody Bellinger, the left-handed-hitting past MVP whose father wore pinstripes, has long been seen as an ideal fit. But what if the Cubs, with by far the highest run differential in their division, decide to hold onto him? Or, more likely, what if another suitor is ultimately more aggressive?

The Yankees would prefer a left-handed, middle-of-the-order-type hitter to include in an outfield mix highlighted by the right-handed-hitting Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Harrison Bader. But they’d be open to a right-handed-hitting option if he stands as a clear upgrade, a source familiar with the team’s thinking said. The next tier of available outfielders seems to be made up mostly of right-handed-hitters, including Mark Canha, Tommy Pham, Randal Grichuk, Tyler O’Neill, Lane Thomas and Dylan Carlson (Carlson is a switch-hitter, but he has been far better from the right side this season).

First, though, the Yankees have to decide how they feel about their current team, specifically whether they want to augment it or shed some pieces in hopes of freeing up payroll. They’re among the many who still seem to be undecided. — Gonzalez

Chicago is buzzing ahead of the deadline: There were half a dozen scouts in the stands at Guaranteed Rate Field for the beginning of the Cubs/White Sox crosstown series on Tuesday. Both Chicago teams could subtract at the deadline and there’s no shortage of talent between them. Most interesting: The top scouts from the Yankees, in attendance to watch Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger, were the same personnel who scouted Anthony Rizzo before the Yankees traded for him in 2021.

Tuesday’s Cubs starter, Kyle Hendricks, is not expected to be moved at the deadline, according to sources. He has a team option for next year and will likely be a Cub in 2024.

Lance Lynn, scheduled to pitch for Sox on Wednesday, wants another shot at the playoffs. His splits suggest he pitches against the righty dominant Blue Jays or Yankees rather than for them, one scout opined. Lefties have a 1.055 OPS off him while righties have compiled just a .644 mark. A reunion in Texas is not out of the question. Los Angeles or San Francisco are possible as well. — Rogers

July 24 updates

The uncertainty surrounding Ohtani: The contingent of English- and Japanese-speaking media members who cover the Los Angeles Angels posed for a photo Sunday. It was the team’s last home game before a 10-day road trip that will spill past the trade deadline, and thus, it was potentially the last time that group — most of whom are dedicated to covering Shohei Ohtani wherever he goes — will be together.

Such is the state of things.

Nine days remain until the Aug. 1 trade deadline, and there is still a lot of uncertainty as to whether Ohtani, the Angels’ transformative two-way star, will be dealt before then. Front-office sources throughout the industry said things were quiet on the trade front over the weekend, and many of them have a hard time believing Angels owner Arte Moreno will trade Ohtani in the first place — especially since the team has found a way to remain in contention without Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.

But the Angels have not publicly declared that Ohtani will stay, so teams throughout the sport are preparing for the possibility that he can be had. They have to be ready to act; acquiring a player of that magnitude takes a lot of legwork. — Gonzalez

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Who is a sleeper team to trade for Shohei Ohtani?

Buster Olney maintains that Shohei Ohtani is unavailable for trades, but identifies the Rays as a team that could put together an appealing package if the Angels change their position.

How valuable is Bellinger on the market? The Chicago Cubs can only hope Ohtani isn’t moved, as Cody Bellinger is having a resurgent year and an even better month of July. The price should be high, though, with or without Ohtani on the market. There can’t be many teams more in need of Bellinger than the New York Yankees, but the Toronto Blue Jays need left-handed hitting help as well. The noise about the Astros’ interest is just that: noise.

If any candidate was eligible for a trade and re-sign with his old team, it’s Bellinger. The moment the Cubs move him, they need to replace him. Reliever Mark Leiter Jr. is also garnering interest as the Cubs have done a decent job of developing and flipping relievers in recent years. Marcus Stroman also has interest from the obvious contenders. — Rogers

Will the Padres be adding or dealing? It might be hard to believe, given his nature, that San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller won’t be aggressive one way or another, either selling off veteran players or acquiring them. As of now, though, the expectation is that starter Blake Snell and closer Josh Hader will remain with the team, according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking.

If available, Snell would probably be the best starting pitcher available, and Hader would probably be the best relief pitcher available. Both are free agents at season’s end, and if the Padres don’t believe they can truly contend in 2023, they could use both to get younger, cheaper players that balance out both the roster and the payroll, better positioning the club for 2024.

At the moment, though, the Padres don’t seem ready to punt on 2023. But a lot can change this week during their six-game homestand against the Pirates and Rangers. A lack of significant traction could prompt Preller to pivot in the other direction. And if he does, perhaps superstar outfielder Juan Soto, a free agent after 2024, will be available, too. If there’s one thing Preller has proved in his Padres tenure, it’s that he doesn’t take half-measures. — Gonzalez

The Cards’ stance at the deadline: The St. Louis Cardinals will start sifting through offers this week. Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery are as good as gone. Unless Snell is moved, Montgomery is going to be the best lefty starter on the market. Most contenders have some interest, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros. St. Louis wants controllable pitching in return and could attach an outfielder in a package. From the position players side, Paul DeJong could make sense, since he has team options over the next two seasons. What happens with Jordan Hicks is still a question mark. — Rogers

Could Dodgers add All-Star third baseman? The Los Angeles Dodgers might be in first place in the National League West, but they’re also one of the most needy teams heading into the trade deadline. They need starting and relief pitching, and they’d also like to add a right-handed bat to their lineup, with position not being much of a factor.

One name to watch here is Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals third baseman who is owed a very reasonable $94 million over the next three years. The Dodgers have long been enamored of Arenado, 32, and they see third base as a need they’ll have to address in the offseason given their present construction.

The Cardinals aren’t expected to trade Arenado at the moment, but the Dodgers have the type of young talent — particularly pitching — to sway teams in a situation like this. Arenado has a full no-trade clause, but he grew up in Southern California and the expectation is that he would waive it for a team like the Dodgers. — Gonzalez

Candelario on the move? The Washington Nationals will subtract at the deadline, with third baseman Jeimer Candelario their best trade chip right now. With Josh Donaldson out, the switch-hitting Candelario could be a perfect fit for the Yankees. — Rogers

White Sox dealing pitchers: Lucas Giolito will be moved as he has no chance of re-signing in Chicago. He’d be a good addition for the pitching-needy Cincinnati Reds. There has been no indication Dylan Cease will get traded — not with two years remaining of team control and few good Chicago White Sox starters under contract after this season. If Joe Kelly is healthy, he and Kendall Graveman are options for any of the contenders. Tim Anderson’s future in Chicago is also murky. — Rogers

Trade tracker

Giolito heads to the Angels

The Los Angeles Angels acquired RHP Lucas Giolito and RHP Reynaldo López from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league LHP Ky Bush and C Edgar Quero, the teams announced Wednesday.

Rosario to the Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired shortstop Amed Rosario from the Cleveland Guardians. Noah Syndergaard is headed to the Guardians in return. Story » | Grades »

Twins and Marlins swap relievers

The Minnesota Twins acquired Dylan Floro from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Jorge Lopez on Wednesday in a swap of struggling right-handed relievers. Story »

Mariners adding arm to pen

Reliever Trent Thornton, who was DFA’d last week by Blue Jays, is being traded to the Mariners, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Toronto will receive Triple-A infielder Mason McCoy. Story»

Dodgers reunite with former utility player

Enrique Hernandez is headed back to Los Angeles after the Dodgers traded RHP Nick Robertson and RHP Justin Hagenman for him. Story » | Grades »

Mets add to bullpen in early deal

Bullpen help is on its way to New York, with the Mets trading LHP Zach Muckenhirn to the Mariners for RHP Trevor Gott RHP Chris Flexen. Story »

Texas lands resurgent reliever

Breakout Rangers acquire Aroldis Chapman from Royals for LHP Cole Ragans and OF Roni Cabrera. Story »

MLB trade deadline analysis

Olney: High tension as Arte Moreno, Angels mull Ohtani trade

What an MLB exec says eight bubble teams should do

Let’s make a deal! Proposing nine potential Ohtani blockbusters

One player all 30 MLB teams should trade for (or away)

The X factors that will shape the deadline