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Spinning Back Clique: UFC 281 title changes and aftermath, Makhachev vs. Volkanovski official, remembering ‘Rumble’ Johnson

MMA Junkie Staff
·2 min read

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 Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • Alex Pereira rallied to stop Israel Adesanya and claim middleweight gold in the UFC 281 main event after being down 3-1 on the scorecards. The panel reacts to the title change, the stoppage, a potential immediate rematch and who should be a favorite going into a fourth combat sports encounter between the rivals.

  • Zhang Weili is once again UFC strawweight champion after submitting Carla Esparza in the UFC 281 co-headliner. Will her second reign atop the division be more impactful than the first? Who can dethrone the Chinese titleholder?

  • The seventh champion-vs-champion fight in UFC history is set with Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski is official for UFC 284 on Feb. 11. Additionally, an interim title fight between Josh Emmett and Yair Rodriguez will unfold. Did the UFC make the right call with these bookings?

  • Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler delivered with the Fight of the Night at UFC 281. What’s next for pair of fan favorites in the always loaded lightweight division?

  • Bellator action returns on Friday with Bellator 288 featuring the conclusion of the 205-pound grand prix with Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson. A lightweight title fight of Patricky Freire vs. Usman Nurmagomedov is also set, and we’ll dig into both matchups.

  • Reaction to the shocking death of former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson.

  • Reaction to Frankie Edgar’s brutal knockout loss in his UFC 281 retirement bout.

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.

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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie