MMA News
Jacare Souza no longer on UFC roster after submission loss at UFC 262
Cole Shelton - May 20, 2021
Jacare Souza is no longer a member of the UFC roster. At UFC 262, Souza was fighting fellow Brazilian grappling ace, Andre Muniz. The bout also served as Souza’s final fight on his contract where he suffered a submission loss. According to ESPN, the former Strikeforce champ is now a free agent.
Diego Sanchez terminates professional relationship with Joshua Fabia
Cole Shelton - May 20, 2021
Diego Sanchez has cut his ties with Joshua Fabia. The UFC Hall of Famer told MMAFighitng he has ended his professional relationship with his former coach and manager in Fabia. Sanchez would not comment any further and said he would release something next week on his decision.
Dana White comments after Derrick Lewis stops attempted carjacking: "He slammed him on his head and knocked him out"
Adam Martin - May 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White commented after Derrick Lewis stopped an attempted carjacking, saying Lewis slammed the thief down and KOed him. Lewis shared on social media this week the news that he had stopped a would-be thief from breaking into his car with a screwdriver. Appearing on “Big Night Breaks” podcast (h/t MMA Crazy), White reacted to Lewis stopping the burglar from breaking into his car.
Jose Aldo vs. Pedro Munhoz added to UFC 265
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
An intriguing bantamweight bout between two of the best fighters in the division takes place at UFC 265 when Jose Aldo meets Pedro Munhoz. Combate’s Ana Hissa and Raphael Marinho first reported the Aldo vs. Munhoz fight for UFC 265, which takes place on August 7. The card currently does not have its main event set, but Amanda Nunes is expected to defend the UFC women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event or as the third title fight on what could be a stacked card. As well, a middleweight bout between Uriah Hall and Sean Strickland takes place on this card.
Charles Oliveira had leg injury that disrupted training camp for UFC 262, says coach
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Diego Lima, the coach for UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, revealed that the new champ had a leg injury during his training camp. Oliveira picked up his ninth straight win and the biggest victory of his MMA career last weekend at UFC 262 when he brutally knocked out Michael Chandler in the second round to win the vacant UFC lightweight title. Although there were a few scary moments in the first round for the Brazilian, Oliveira looked incredible overall in the fight as he picked up a highlight-reel knockout with his improved hands and won the title. But according to his coach at Chute Boxe, Oliveira wanted to incorporate more kicks into the game plan.
Yancy Medeiros knows UFC Vegas 27 fight is do-or-die for his UFC career, wants Michael Johnson next
Cole Shelton - May 20, 2021
Yancy Medeiros is returning to the Octagon on Saturday for the first time in over a year. Medeiros enters his UFC Vegas 27 scrap against Damir Hadzovic on a three-fight losing streak and on the last fight of his contract. After the Hawaiian lost to Lando Vannata, he realized he needed to make some changes to his team and that is exactly what he did.
Brett Johns explains his decision to part ways with the UFC for Bellator: “They weren’t willing to pay the money”
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Bantamweight Brett Johns explained his decision to part ways with the UFC for Bellator, saying that “they weren’t willing to pay the money.” Johns went 5-2 overall in the UFC from 2016 to 2020, and he finished off his run in the Octagon with back-to-back wins over Montel Jackson and Tony Gravely. He is a very good bantamweight fighter and considering he is just 29 years old, the Wales native still has a ton of untapped potential and upside in the sport. By all accounts, this looks to be a tremendous signing for Bellator, and it’s a wonder why the UFC let Johns get away.
Photo | Ronaldo Souza finally home with family after having arm surgery following nasty break at UFC 262
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
UFC middleweight veteran Ronaldo Souza is finally home with his family after having arm surgery following a nasty break at UFC 262. Souza suffered one of the most horrific arm breaks we have ever seen in the UFC when Andre Muniz snapped his limb with an armbar in the first round of their fight at UFC 262. For the 41-year-old Souza, the loss to Muniz marked his fourth straight defeat in the Octagon, and breaking his arm in the loss certainly didn’t help. But he has remained a true professional in spite of the loss, as he congratulated Muniz for the victory, and has had a smile on his face the entire time despite having his right arm snapped in half last weekend.
Dana White says the UFC will be "ready" for Kayla Harrison when her PFL contract is up
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White says that the UFC will be “ready” for lightweight standout Kayla Harrison when her PFL contract is officially up. Harrison is currently in the PFL, where she is the defending lightweight champion. She is part of the promotion’s third season and is already well on her way to winning another $1 million dollars after smashing Mariana Morais in her first outing this year. Harrison’s contract is up later this year and there have been whispers that she could test free agency once that happens. It’s possible that Bellator could be interested in having her fight Cris Cyborg, but Harrison has made it clear that her goal is to ultimately join the UFC roster.
Cris Cyborg open to fighting Kayla Harrison at lightweight
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg says she is open to fighting PFL standout Kayla Harrison in a lightweight bout. Cyborg takes on Leslie Smith in a rematch that headlines this Friday’s Bellator 259 card. Since joining Bellator in 2020, Cyborg has defeated Julia Budd and Arlene Blencowe as she once again shows the MMA world that she is still one of the best in the world. In Bellator, the promotion does have a featherweight division but is quickly running out of challengers for the champion. That’s why there have been some suggestions that Bellator could possibly take a run at Harrison once she becomes a free agent after this third PFL season.
Dan Hardy "disappointed" the UFC blocked George St-Pierre from boxing Oscar de la Hoya
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
Former UFC welterweight Dan Hardy says that he was “disappointed” to learn the UFC blocked Georges St-Pierre from boxing Oscar de la Hoya. We found out last week that UFC president Dana White shut down GSP vs. de la Hoya after not taking phone calls from Triller executive Ryan Kavanaugh. GSP himself confirmed that the fight was blocked and that he was upset because he wanted to have a fun fight with one of his idols in de la Hoya and then give most of the money to charity. But White refused to let St-Pierre out of his UFC contract to join the Triller Fight Club promotion.
Derrick Lewis shares photo highlighting the facial injuries he provided to an attempted car thief
Adam D Martin - May 20, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis shared a photo highlighting the facial injuries he provided to an attempted car thief in Houston. Lewis’ car was reportedly broken into earlier this week in his hometown of Houston, Texas. “The Black Beast” took to his social media and posted a photo of his bruised knuckles after capturing the would-be thief, and now we have a bit more information about who tried to break into Lewis’ car. The UFC heavyweight contender took to his social media on Wednesday to post a photo of the thief and link to his social media so people know who he was. Lewis put this robber on blast but made sure to let everyone know that “he’s ok.”
Anderson Silva calls UFC 'terrible' for preventing Georges St-Pierre from boxing, 'You can't hold a fighter'
Drake Riggs - May 19, 2021
Anderson Silva is set to make his boxing debut. In the meantime, the possibility for his fellow MMA legend in Georges St-Pierre to follow suit has been presented. However, the UFC went ahead and blocked that from happening before the Canadian icon could even make a real decision – much to the dismay of Silva.
Jake Paul signs multi-fight deal with Showtime Boxing, fight announcement coming soon
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Jake Paul is leaving Triller Fight Club and has signed a multi-fight deal with Showtime Boxing. Paul, the brash YouTuber turned boxer, had his past two fights under the Triller banner but was vocal about the fight he was doing one-fight deals and was a free agent. Now, however, according to ESPN, Paul has agreed to a multi-fight deal with Showtime Boxing.
Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 3 "potentially will be the biggest pay-per-view of all time," says coach
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Mike Brown, the head coach of Dustin Poirier, believes his upcoming trilogy against Conor McGregor could be the biggest pay-per-view of all time. In the main event of UFC 264 on July 10, Poirier and McGregor are set to have their trilogy in a highly-anticipated bout. After Poirier scored a second-round TKO over the Irishman at UFC 257, both men called for the trilogy to happen given they are 1-1 against one another. With that, Brown thinks that adds to the storyline and adds to the hype of the fight.
Cody Garbrandt believes a win over Rob Font could result in title shots at bantamweight and flyweight
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Cody Garbrandt believes a win over Rob Font on Saturday night could net him title shots at bantamweight and flyweight. Garbrandt was expected to drop down to flyweight to face Deiveson Figueiredo for the title at UFC 255. However, the former champ was forced out of the bout due to an injury and will now stay at bantamweight in the main event of UFC Vegas 27 against Font.
Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines PFL 5
Adam D Martin - May 19, 2021
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald fights fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau in his next regular-season match in the Professional Fighters League. The PFL made the MacDonald vs. Tibau fight announcement official on Wednesday, along with announcing the rest of the PFL 5 card. The event takes place on Thursday, June 17 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check out the full card below.
Darrion Caldwell expects to finish Leandro Higo again, plans to reclaim bantamweight title later this year
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2021
Darrion Caldwell is focused on reclaiming his bantamweight title. After Caldwell lost back-to-back fights to Kyoji Horiguchi for the RIZIN title and to lose his Bellator belt, he moved up to featherweight to take part in the grand prix. He beat Henry Corrales by decision and then submitted Adam Borics, but lost in the semis to AJ McKee.