🚨 Joe Rogan says the UFC White House event had over 150 MILLION views by Monday 🤯
Paramount+ downloads reportedly jumped 276% from their prior 30-day average, while daily active users rose 34%, per @SBJ
"I felt embarrassed to even be sitting by [Gaethje] because I was counting him out. It was one of the most inspiring fights I've ever seen.
Ilia did not know what to do. Ilia would still crack him, but Justin didn't even look like he got in a fight.
It was one of the sickest performances of all time."
Sean O'Malley was blown away by Justin Gaethje's performance against Ilia Topuria.
"[Alex Pereira's] dad was crying, his family was sad, and he said, 'Hey, we've made other families feel like this. It's our turn.'
I was like, 'That dude is a legend,' just for having that perspective so quickly after a fight and carrying that mentality... A lot of respect for that."
Sean O'Malley praises Alex Pereira for his perspective following his loss to Ciryl Gane.
🚨 Pablo Motos, a close friend of Ilia Topuria, provided an update on his current physical and mental state
“This morning I was with Ilia. He has fractures in his orbital bones, in his nose.
This morning they were treating his wounds and he still couldn’t open his eyes properly.
Then we were talking about something we’re going to do this summer, making jokes, and then he said a phrase I loved. He looks at me with his eyes closed and says, ‘Champions, when we fall, we fall hard.’
They’re already looking toward the future. He was telling me, ‘I’d love to do the rematch in Spain with Gaethje.’”
(via @El_Hormiguero)
BREAKING: The FBI says it foiled an alleged terror plot targeting Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
Five suspects are in custody after authorities say they planned a coordinated attack involving explosive-filled drones aimed at buildings near the venue. Investigators allege the plot was designed to trigger panic among attendees and funnel fleeing crowds toward a sniper team positioned to carry out additional attacks.
The FBI disrupted an alleged plot targeting the White House UFC event, officials say.
Two sources told CBS News that the alleged plot involved using explosive-laden drones and snipers to attack the crowd, followed by a "second wave" involving an attempt to storm the White House gate. https://t.co/Is6iiYUkmP
Ok so this one’s a bit special! It’s still kind of all a little surreal and will remain so for quite a while I’m sure, I’m trying to wrap my head around it. I have stood inside some of the most iconic arenas the world over with some amazing settings, crowds and some of the most unforgettable moment’s in UFC history.
If you would have told me 25 years ago that I’d be stood in the Octagon on the White House lawn refereeing a UFC World title I’d have laughed you out of the way, but here we are.
This crazy sport, this journey that has changed my life and gifted me so much still amazes me and it always will, but today tops the lot. The physical set up, logistics & magnitude of the event itself and “The Claw” was magical. The whole thing, start to finish, the set up, the location - it was incredible, truly incredible.
I feel that I could go down a rabbit hole and try to put into words just how amazing it was, how it felt and how to put these things into perspective but that seems so insurmountable and I can’t, so I won’t.
I’m just gonna have to leave it as my overwhelming thanks & gratitude to be here, with the honour, privilege and a huge sense of pride to witness a true once in a lifetime event. Wow.
#UFC #UFCFreedom250 #UFCWhitehouse #MMA #Fortune
😯 Sean O’Malley says that Alex Pereira went over back of the head shots specifically with the referee in the pre-fight rules meeting
“You know what’s funny, in the rules meeting when Pereira was talking to the ref, they were having the translator go over back of the head.
Because I remember when Gane finished [JDS] and elbowing him in the back of the head.”
(via @SugaSeanMMA / @THATBOYMMAGURU)