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Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gaethje 'p****d' with UFC as Topuria vs Oliveira fight announced
UFC commentator Jon Anik has shared that lightweight ace Justin Gaethje was none too pleased when Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira was announced. The scrap is set for June 28 at UFC 317, after Islam Makhachev chose to drop the title and step up to welterweight, with an eye on a straight-up title tussle against new champ Jack Della Maddalena later in the year. Having relinquished the featherweight title earlier this year, Topuria's skipping ahead to a title fight once more as he targets two-division champion glory. While fans are all abuzz about the matchup, Gaethje feels overlooked and reckons it should be him in the title shot come next month. "He was p****d," Anik revealed on The Anik and Florian Podcast. "He feels like certainly he was passed over in favour of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria. I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next. Because it's 19 May, and the good news for this Topuria-Oliveira fight is that it's f******g 28 June – it's less than six weeks away. "So, I don't think it's a mad request for Justin, having done what he did against Rafael Fiziev: staying on the fight card, not fighting Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 result.", reports the Mirror. Anik was referencing Gaethje's earlier victory over Fiziev this year - a match where the 'Highlight' stepped up following Dan Hooker's pullout. The American bounced back after a devastating last-second knockout defeat to Max Holloway. "And by the way, he fought [Holloway] at UFC 300 to help the UFC," Anik continued. "He could have fought for the undisputed championship at that point in time, so I wouldn't be surprised if Gaethje gets some sort of guarantee that he's next for the Topuria-Oliveira winner. But I can just tell you Justin was not thrilled." With the lightweight title bout just weeks away, Topuria recently shocked the MMA community when news broke that he has split from his lifelong coaches, Agustin and Jorge Climent. With the 28 year old well into his training camp, the announcement comes as quite the bombshell. The brother duo behind Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, have been pivotal in the training of 'El Matador' and his brother Aleksandre Topuria since their MMA beginnings. Following his featherweight championship win last year, Topuria made the decision to move from Alicante to Madrid. This shift is reported to have led to changes in his training routine. "Both sides live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating as they once did," revealed MARCA. Topuria has expressed appreciation for his long-time guides, saying: "We thank them for all these years of mutual learning and growth, and they wholeheartedly wish them all the best in all their projects." With a looming fight against a Brazilian contender, Topuria's corner is poised to include his sibling Aleksandre, Jesus Gallo, Javi Climent – who isn't kin to the Climent brothers – Mani Tavanaei, and Mathias Ribeiro.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jon Anik says Justin Gaethje 'was pissed' about being passed up for UFC 317 title fight
Jon Anik says Justin Gaethje 'was pissed' about being passed up for UFC 317 title fight According to Jon Anik, Justin Gaethje was more than disappointed to not be part of the vacant UFC lightweight title fight. With Islam Makhachev relinquishing his title for a move up to 170 pounds, Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) will battle for the vacant belt on June 28 in the UFC 317 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Prior to Makhachev moving up, Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) appeared to be in the running for a title shot, which is why "The Highlight" is not happy to be left out of the equation. "He was pissed," Anik said on his "Anik & Florian Podcast." "He feels like certainly he was passed over in favor of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria, and I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next because it's May 19, and the good news for this Topuria-Oliveira fight is that it's f*cking June 28, it's less than six weeks away. "So I don't think it's a crazy request for Justin, having done what he did against Rafael Fiziev, staying on the fight card, not fighting Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 result – and by the way, he fought at UFC 300 to help the UFC when he could have fought for the undisputed championship at that point in time. So, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Gaethje gets some sort of guarantee that he's next for the Topuria-Oliveira winner. But I can just tell you that Justin was not thrilled." In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, manager Ali Abdelaziz said Gaethje should wait and fight the winner of Topuria vs. Oliveira.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
UFC star enraged by brutal snub ahead of Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira fight
The UFC stars are set to clash for the vacant lightweight title next month in Las Vegas, but one fighter has been left enraged after being brutally snubbed UFC commentator Jon Anik has revealed that lightweight star Justin Gaethje was "p****d" after Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira was announced. The fight is scheduled for June 28 at UFC 317, following Islam Makhachev's decision to vacate the title and move up to welterweight, eyeing an immediate title shot against new king Jack Della Maddalena later in the year. After giving up the featherweight belt earlier this year, Topuria is now jumping straight into another title fight as he aims to become a two-division champion. While fans are buzzing over the bout, Gaethje feels snubbed, believing he should have been competing for gold next month. "He was p****d," Anik said on The Anik and Florian Podcast. "He feels like certainly he was passed over in favour of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria. I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next. Because it's 19 May, and the good news for this Topuria-Oliveira fight is that it's f******g 28 June – it's less than six weeks away. "So, I don't think it's a mad request for Justin, having done what he did against Rafael Fiziev: staying on the fight card, not fighting Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 result." Anik was referring to Gaethje's victory over Fiziev earlier this year - a bout that saw the 'Highlight' compete following Dan Hooker's withdrawal. The American returned to winning ways after a crushing last-minute knockout loss to Max Holloway. "And by the way, he fought [Holloway] at UFC 300 to help the UFC," Anik added. "He could have fought for the undisputed championship at that point in time, so I wouldn't be surprised if Gaethje gets some sort of guarantee that he's next for the Topuria-Oliveira winner. But I can just tell you Justin was not thrilled." With only weeks remaining until the lightweight title fight, Topuria recently stunned the MMA world when it emerged that he has parted ways with his lifelong coaches, Agustin and Jorge Climent. With the 28-year-old deep into his training camp, the news comes as a real shock. The two brothers run Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, where 'El Matador' and his brother Aleksandre Topuria have trained since the start of their MMA careers. After clinching the featherweight title last year, Topuria decided to relocate to Madrid from Alicante. The switch has reportedly caused a split in his training regime. "Both sides live in different cities, and their multiple professional projects prevent them from collaborating as they once did," according to the MARCA report. Topuria expressed gratitude towards his lifelong mentors, stating: "We thank them for all these years of mutual learning and growth, and they wholeheartedly wish them all the best in all their projects." With a bout against the Brazilian around the corner, Topuria's team is now expected to consist of his brother Aleksandre, Jesus Gallo, Javi Climent – who is not related to the Climent brothers – Mani Tavanaei, and Mathias Ribeiro.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC commentator Jon Anik says Justin Gaethje was irate at Topuria vs Oliveira match-up
UFC commentator Jon Anik has revealed that Justin Gaethje was 'p****d' at the promotion's decision to pair Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira in a lightweight title fight. On 28 June, Topuria and Oliveira will clash over the vacant belt, after Islam Makhachev relinquished the gold to move up to welterweight. There, Makhachev is set for a title shot, just as Topuria will fight for the lightweight title after vacating the featherweight strap in February. Advertisement In Oliveira, Topuria will square off with a former lightweight champion, yet Gaethje apparently believes he should be in the UFC 317 main event – at the expense of one of those fighters. 'He was p****d,' Anik said on The Anik & Florian Podcast. 'He feels like certainly he was passed over in favour of Charles Oliveira for this opportunity against Ilia Topuria. 'I think what Justin Gaethje and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, are looking for is just some sort of guarantee that they will be next. Because it's 19 May, and the good news for this Topuria-Oliveira fight is that it's f******g 28 June – it's less than six weeks away. 'So, I don't think it's a crazy request for Justin, having done what he did against Rafael Fiziev: staying on the fight card, not fighting Dan Hooker, getting a win, distance from the UFC 300 result.' Advertisement Anik was referring to Gaethje's decision win over Rafael Fiziev in March, which saw the American compete after Dan Hooker's withdrawal and bounce back from a brutal knockout by Max Holloway. Justin Gaethje (right) during his second win over Rafael Fiziev, in March (Getty Images) 'And by the way, he fought [Holloway] at UFC 300 to help the UFC,' Anik continued. 'He could have fought for the undisputed championship at that point in time, so I wouldn't be surprised if Gaethje gets some sort of guarantee that he's next for the Topuria-Oliveira winner. But I can just tell you Justin was not thrilled.' While Topuria, 28, is unbeaten in the UFC and in MMA more widely, Gaethje and Oliveira are both 3-2 in their last five bouts. Oliveira submitted Gaethje in 2022 in what was due to be a title defence, but the Brazilian missed weight the day before the fight, thus he was stripped of the belt and ineligible to win it the following night. Advertisement In his next bout, Oliveira, 35, was submitted by Makhachev in a vacant-title fight, before he bounced back by stopping Beneil Dariush in 2023. A close decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan ensued at UFC 300 last April, but Oliveira again responded well as he outpointed Michael Chandler in November. Meanwhile, Gaethje – a former interim champion – bounced back from his loss to Oliveira by narrowly outpointing Fiziev in 2023, before knocking out Dustin Poirier to win the 'Baddest Motherf*****' title. Gaethje, 36, lost the belt to Holloway but got back to winning ways with his second win over Fiziev.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans demand probe into DOD's taxpayer-funded charges at casinos, bars and nightclubs
FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa., are demanding sweeping reforms to the federal government's use of charge cards after thousands of highly questionable charges were uncovered at the Department of Defense, including at casinos, bars and nightclubs using taxpayer dollars. In a letter addressed to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Ernst and Comer called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to launch a comprehensive review of all federal charge card programs. The demand follows alarming findings from recent audits that point to systemic failures in oversight, including the issuance of nearly two charge cards per federal employee and more than $40 billion in spending last fiscal year alone. The Pentagon's inspector general found nearly 8,000 Defense Department credit card transactions at "high-risk locations" – including casino ATMs – over the past year. An additional 3,246 transactions occurred at bars and nightclubs, many of them on federal holidays, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, the day of UFC 300, Cinco de Mayo and New Year's Eve. Doge And Agencies Cancel 200,000 Federal Government Credit Cards "It is indefensible for Department of Defense bureaucrats to waste tax dollars at clubs, casinos, and bars, racking up charges on Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, and federal holidays," said Ernst. Read On The Fox News App The DOD is not alone. Recent GAO reports have found agencies consistently fail to use tools to analyze purchase card data and prevent fraud, the letter notes. "With Washington $36 trillion in debt, the last thing we need is bureaucrats maxing out their tab and sticking taxpayers with the bill. There should never be more credit cards than federal employees, and I'm working to create accountability government-wide." $1,300 Coffee Cups, 8,000% Overpay For Soap Dispensers Show Waste As Doge Locks In On Pentagon The letter also highlighted the illegal practice of "split purchases," where government employees intentionally divide large transactions to stay under the $3,500 micro-purchase threshold – the largest purchase that can be put on a federal charge card. Despite being a clear violation of federal regulations, these practices reportedly continue due to inadequate monitoring and enforcement. Ernst and Comer's request urges the GAO to investigate criteria for issuing cards, agency compliance with internal controls, the frequency of risky transactions – including at marijuana dispensaries, dating services, and gambling platforms – and whether agencies are appropriately closing accounts after employees leave government service. In a particularly damning detail, the lawmakers noted that no local purchase card program officials at the DOD could provide examples of analyzing card spending to reduce costs, despite long-standing recommendations from the Office of Management and Budget to do so. "I'm working to create accountability government-wide. It's time to cut up the plastic and put a stop to the reckless spending," said Ernst. The GAO review, if initiated, could affect hundreds of federal agencies covered under the Chief Financial Officers Act and could lead to a sweeping overhaul of how federal employees use government-issued charge cards. "American taxpayers shouldn't be stuck paying for federal bureaucrats' splurges on government-issued credit cards. Tax dollars are meant to fund essential government services, not dating apps, nightclubs, or bar tabs," Comer said in a article source: Republicans demand probe into DOD's taxpayer-funded charges at casinos, bars and nightclubs
