MMA News

Rose Namajunas, UFC 237
Rose Namajunas

Rose Namajunas responds to Dana White’s claim that she does not want a title shot

Adam Martin - December 21, 2020

UFC women’s strawweight contender Rose Namajunas has responded to UFC president Dana White’s claims that she does not want a title shot. Namajunas defeated Jessica Andrade on Fight Island in a “Fight of the Night” performance that earned her the next title shot against UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang. That fight was initially expected to take place in early 2021. However, UFC president Dana White recently said that Namajunas doesn’t want the fight with Zhang and the UFC is now considering giving the next title shot at 115lbs to Carla Esparza instead.

Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal
Stephen Thompson

What's next for Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal after UFC Vegas 17?

Cole Shelton - December 21, 2020

In the main event of UFC Vegas 17, Stephen Thompson took on rising contender Geoff Neal. Thompson was looking to cement his case as a top-five welterweight while Neal was set for the biggest fight of his career. Ultimately, it was “Wonderboy” who won every single round to get a clear-cut decision and prove to everyone he is still a contender at 170lbs.

Daniel Cormier
UFC

Daniel Cormier says he should've retired after beating Derrick Lewis and having back surgery: "It was over"

Cole Shelton - December 21, 2020

Daniel Cormier believes he should’ve ended his career after UFC 230. In the main event of the pay-per-view card, Cormier defended his heavyweight title for the first and only time as he submitted Derrick Lewis. However, after the event, “DC” was forced to have a back surgery but decided to fight two more times against Stipe Miocic and lost both.

Jake Paul
Dillon Danis

Jake Paul slams "coward" Dillon Danis for being scared to fight him and turning down a "life-changing offer"

Cole Shelton - December 21, 2020

Jake Paul doesn’t believe that Dillon Danis actually wants to fight him. Paul and Danis have been taken shots at one another as of late and many fans hoped we would seem the box one another. Bellator president, Scott Coker also said he would allow Danis to box the 23-year-old YouTuber, but according to Paul, the fight offer was never returned.

Marcin Tybura
Marcin Tybura

Marcin Tybura issues statement after stopping Greg Hardy

Tom Taylor - December 21, 2020

UFC heavyweight contender Marcin Tybura has issued a statement after his victory over Greg Hardy at UFC Vegas 17 last weekend. Tybura met Hardy on the event’s main card. The Polish heavyweight ended up scoring a decisive win in the over the former NFL player, strafing his exhausted foe from top position to set up a second-round TKO.

Mackenzie Dern
Nina Ansaroff

Mackenzie Dern gets quick turnaround, slated for fight with returning Nina Ansaroff

Tom Taylor - December 21, 2020

Rising UFC strawweight star Mackenzie Dern is expected to return the Octagon against established contender Nina Ansaroff on April 10. News of this bout was first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN, the official broadcast partner of the UFC.

Kevin Holland
TJ Dillashaw

Kevin Holland slams TJ Dillashaw for claiming ownership of bantamweight belt

Tom Taylor - December 21, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland was not impressed by a recent comment from former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw ruled over the UFC bantamweight division for several years, but was stripped of that title in early 2019, after he tested positive for the injectable-only performance-enhancing drug Erythropoietin (EPO). The former champion’s indiscretion caused him to be suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, but that suspension will soon be over.

Jose Aldo, UFC 245
TJ Dillashaw

Jose Aldo calls TJ Dillashaw's past drug test failures "just a mistake," still considers him a champion

Adam Martin - December 21, 2020

UFC legend Jose Aldo called TJ Dillashaw’s past drug test failures “a mistake” and says he still considers him a champion in MMA. Dillashaw has not fought since January 2019 when he suffered a TKO loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC on ESPN+ 1. Following that fight, Dillashaw tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and he has missed the last two years of action. Next month, Dillashaw will finally be able to return to the Octagon after serving his two-year USADA suspension, and already several UFC fighters have called him out for his return.

Santiago Ponzinibbio
UFC

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Li Jingliang added to UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar

Adam Martin - December 21, 2020

An intriguing welterweight bout between Santiago Ponzinibbio and Li Jingliang has been added to UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar. MMAFighting.com was the first to confirm that Ponzinibbio vs. Jingliang will take place on the UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar card, which is set to take place on January 16 on Fight Island. It seems likely that Ponzinibbio vs. Jingliang will be placed on the main card considering it features two former top-15 welterweights who are exciting.

Jake Paul, Conor McGregor
Jake Paul

Jake Paul claims $50M fight offer is being discussed with Conor McGregor's team: "We've got proof of funds"

Tom Taylor - December 21, 2020

YouTuber turned boxing star Jake Paul claims that his team is in discussions with Conor McGregor’s over a $50M fight offer. Paul has been the talk of the combat sports world after he picked up a brutal knockout victory over former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard last month.

TJ Dillashaw
UFC

Photo | TJ Dillashaw is looking jacked one month away from UFC eligibility

Harry Kettle - December 21, 2020

TJ Dillashaw seems to be in the best shape of his career as he prepares to make his long-awaited return to the UFC next year. Dillashaw, who was suspended for two years by USADA after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) after his January 2019 loss to Henry Cejudo, has been receiving a number of call-outs as the former champion attempts to come back and reclaim the Bantamweight Championship that he technically never lost.

Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor
Donald Cowboy Cerrone

SUG 19 Results: Bader defeats Rumble, Cerrone submits RDA

Harry Kettle - December 21, 2020

Ryan Bader and Donald Cerrone picked up big wins in what proved to be an entertaining night of action at Submission Underground 19. Chael Sonnen’s SUG promotion has been able to draw in some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts over the years, and that trend continued last night as several current and former UFC & Bellator stars hit the ground for some fun grappling exchanges.

Stephen Thompson
Stephen Thompson

Photo | Stephen Thompson shows off facial cuts from war with Geoff Neal at UFC Vegas 17

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson showed off his facial cuts following his war against Geoff Neal in the UFC Vegas 17 main event. Despite entering the Octagon as the slight betting underdog to Neal based on closing odds, Thompson won the fight in a blowout, winning 50-45 on all three of the judges’ scorecards. Thompson showed that there are levels to this game as he stayed on the outside and landed nearly 200 significant strikes on Neal, who showed incredible durability by going the full five rounds in what was a shutout win for Thompson.

Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz
UFC

Anthony Pettis credits cutting down on drinking as key to recent UFC success

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis says that cutting down on drinking has been a key to his recent success in the Octagon. Pettis defeated Alex Morono via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 17 for his second straight win after beating Donald Cerrone at UFC 249. Considering that Pettis began his year with a submission loss to Diego Ferreira at UFC 246, ending the year with back-to-back wins over Cerrone and Morono showed that he still has the ability to win fights at the highest level of the sport. Following the win over Morono, Pettis is now a free agent and figures to test the free-agent market but says the UFC is his preferred destination.

Jose Aldo
Petr Yan

Jose Aldo suggests four UFC legends matchups, including fight with Dominick Cruz

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC bantamweight contender Jose Aldo suggested four potential opponents for his next fight inside the Octagon, including Dominick Cruz. Aldo defeated Marlon Vera via unanimous decision in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17 event. It was a huge win for Aldo, who needed to get back in the victory column badly after losing his last three fights in a row. By beating Vera, Aldo proved that he belongs in the top-10 at 135lbs, and it puts him in line for a big fight his next time out. Aldo called out former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in his post-fight interview after beating Vera, and now he has a few other names to add to the list.

TJ-Dillashaw
TJ Dillashaw

TJ Dillashaw called out by Rob Font following KO win over Marlon Moraes

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw was called out by Rob Font following his vicious KO win over Marlon Moraes at UFC Vegas 17. Font was making his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a year away due to injuries, his first fight since defeating Ricky Simon at UFC Washington, D.C. last December. Against Moraes on Saturday night, Font showed why he is one of the best bantamweights in the world when healthy as he viciously knocked out the former title challenger in the first round. The win improves Font’s UFC record to 8-3 overall, and he is currently riding a three-fight win streak as he’s proven himself to be a top-10 fighter.

Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez

Canelo Alvarez slams Jake Paul and Logan Paul: "They lack respect"

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

Canelo Alvarez, the No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, slammed Jake Paul and Logan Paul, suggesting the two brothers “lack respect.” Alvarez is the best boxer on the planet, and he reaffirmed his No. 1 P4P ranking on Saturday night when he defeated the much larger Callum Smith by lopsided decision to improve his professional record to 54-1-2. As the top boxer in the world today, Alvarez’s opinions about the current state of boxing mean more than most. So when he was recently asked what he thinks about the Paul brothers, it’s worth listening to him.

Sijara Eubanks
UFC

Sijara Eubanks issues statement following loss to Pannie Kianzad at UFC Vegas 17

Adam Martin - December 20, 2020

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Sijara Eubanks issued a statement following her unanimous decision loss to Pannie Kianzad at UFC Vegas 17. Eubanks came into the bout ranked No. 13 in the world at 135lbs, but she suffered her second straight defeat with a unanimous decision defeat to Kianzad. It was a close, competitive fight throughout the 15 minutes, but Kianzad was sharper with her boxing and her effective striking was what ultimately won her the fight on points. The judges scored the fight unanimously in the favor of Kianzad, with all three judges giving her the fight 29-28. It was a very close fight that came down to who won the last round.