MMA News
Jack Hermansson rooting for Adesanya over Blachowicz: "It would be cooler to beat the double champ"
Cole Shelton - December 4, 2020
Jack Hermansson is okay with Israel Adesanya moving up to light heavyweight to fight Jan Blachowicz. Sometime in early 2021, Adesanya will look to become a champ-champ against Blachowicz. However, many people didn’t get the fight as both men have plenty of options to defend their own titles. Yet, for Hermansson, he is fine with the fight being made as long as the middleweight champion wins.
Photo | UFC 256 poster featuring Figueiredo, Moreno, Ferguson and Oliveira
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has dropped the official poster for UFC 256, the final pay-per-view on the calendar for this most turbulent of years. See it below:
Petr Yan responds to TJ Dillashaw's title shot demands
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has responded to the former champion TJ Dillashaw’s recent demands for a title shot. Dillashaw has not fought in close to two years, having been suspended for his use of the injectable-only banned substance EPO ahead of a 2019 TKO loss to Henry Cejudo.
Khabib Nurmagomedov lays out plans to create UFC feeder league
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
Undefeated lightweight star Khabib Nurmagomedov is hoping to create a feeder league for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Nurmagomedov, who still holds the UFC lightweight title despite retiring in October, recently partook in a press conference in Moscow to announce that he purchased Dagestani MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship, and rebranded it Eagle Fighting Championship.
Evander Kane challenges Jake Paul and Logan Paul: "They're both getting KO'd"
Adam Martin - December 4, 2020
Evander Kane of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks called out brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul, proclaiming that “they’re both getting KO’d.” Kane was one of a handful of pro athletes from other sports to take an interest in last week’s boxing match between Jake Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer, and Nate Robinson, a former NBA dunk contest champion. The fight featured a devastating knockout win by Paul, who improved to 2-0 as a pro boxer. Paul brings a lot of eyeballs to the sport and the pay-per-view, which featured a main event between heavyweights Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., reportedly solid 1.2 million pay-per-views. Now everyone wants to cash in.
Marvin Vettori expects Jan Blachowicz to "clean the mat with Israel Adesanya"
Cole Shelton - December 4, 2020
Marvin Vettori doesn’t believe Israel Adesanya’s light heavyweight run will go well. Sometime in early 2021, it is expected that Adesanya will move up in weight to battle Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title. Although many don’t think the fight should happen all signs point to that being the case.
ONE Championship: 'Big Bang' results and highlights: Garry Tonon stays unbeaten
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
On Friday, Asian martial arts powerhouse ONE Championship returned to our screens with the stacked ONE: Big Bang card out of the Singapore Indoor Arena. This ONE Championship card was hit by a handful of last-minute shakeups, but ultimately came together very nicely. The event was topped by a featherweight kickboxing showdown between Marat Grigorian and Ivan Kondratev, which the former won via impressive second-round TKO.
Demetrious Johnson booked to return opposite ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is slated to return to the ONE Championship Circle opposite Adriano Moraes, the promotion’s reigning ONE flyweight champ. The bout, which is slated for February 24, was announced during Friday’s ONE: Big Bang broadcast.
Jorge Masvidal suggests Jake Paul should fight Yoel Romero following his recent comments
Harry Kettle - December 4, 2020
UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal believes that Jake Paul should step into the boxing ring to fight his friend and top middleweight Yoel Romero. Despite all of the criticism that had been sent his way in the lead-up to his fight against Nate Robinson, the YouTube star Paul was able to secure a vicious knockout to take his pro boxing record to 2-0.
Jake Paul says he is "dedicating his life to beating" Conor McGregor
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
Boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul says that he is “dedicating his life to beating” UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a boxing match one day. Paul picked up an incredible KO win over former NBA dunk contest winner Nate Robinson in the co-main event of last weekend’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. megacard. Paul’s KO went viral and he has become one of the biggest talking points in the world of combat sports this week, attracting the attention of numerous MMA fighters, boxers, and even hockey players. Two fights into his career, Paul is already a top draw in the world of boxing and it seems like everyone wants a piece of him.
Cody Durden expects to KO Jimmy Flick and end his hype
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Cody Durden is eager to derail the hype of Jimmy Flick. At UFC Vegas 16, Durden is set to make the walk to the Octagon for the second time but will be doing so at flyweight this time around. In his debut, he stepped up on a week’s notice and fought Chris Guttierrez to a draw at bantamweight. Following that fight, he realized he should be competing at 125-pounds and made the move to down in weight.
Alex Volkanovski eyes future move to lightweight or prove he's the best fighter there is
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Alex Volkanovski is interested in making a move to lightweight. Volkanovski is the current featherweight champion and coming off a split decision win over Max Holloway to defend his belt. Since then win, many had wondered what would be next for him. The champ has multiple options like Brian Ortega and the winner of Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar.
Coach Roddy doesn’t see a path for Dustin Poirier to beat "stone-cold killer" Conor McGregor
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Owen Roddy doesn’t know how Dustin Poirier can beat Conor McGregor. In the main event of UFC 257, Poirier is set to rematch McGregor in a very intriguing bout. It could very well determine the number one contender at lightweight and according to Roddy, McGregor is in the best shape of his life.
Gilbert Burns frustrated with multiple delays to Kamaru Usman fight, still waiting for contract for UFC 258
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns is frustrated with the delays to the Kamaru Usman fight and is still waiting to sign a contract for UFC 258. Remember, Burns was supposed to fight Usman back in July at UFC 251 on Fight Island. Unfortunately for Burns, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to withdraw from the fight, opening up the opportunity for Jorge Masvidal to step in on short notice and save the day. After Usman beat Masvidal, the UFC re-booked Usman vs. Burns for UFC 256 but the fight fell off once again due to Usman being injured. Now that both men are healthy, the UFC is targeting UFC 258 on February 13 for the fight.
TJ Dillashaw believes fighting Urijah Faber would be a "joke," but would love to "whoop his ass"
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
TJ Dillashaw doesn’t think having his comeback fight against Urijah Faber makes sense. Ever since Dillashaw got suspended, many pointed to his return fight against Faber as one that should happen. The two have a rivalry due to Dillashaw leaving Faber’s gym, and then knocking out his pupil, Cody Garbrandt twice. However, the former bantamweight champion believes fighting Faber would be a joke. But, if it happens, knows he would beat up the Hall of Famer.
Marvin Vettori reveals which fighters turned him down before getting Jack Hermansson fight
Cole Shelton - December 3, 2020
Marvin Vettori has had a hard time getting fights. After Vettori submitted Karl Roberson in the first round back in June, the hope for the Italian was to get a ranked opponent. However, in the months since, it has been a difficult time getting a fight with someone ranked above him. That all changed when he was supposed to fight Jacare Souza at UFC 256 but was pulled from that fight to battle Jack Hermansson in the main event of UFC Vegas 16.
Francis Ngannou recounts journey from “sleeping outside in the woods” of Morocco to fighting for the UFC
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
Top UFC heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou has opened up on the turbulent journey that led him to the bright lights of the Octagon. Ngannou, a native of Cameroon, emigrated to Paris, France before making transitioning into MMA. His journey from the Central African country Europe was not easy.
Breaking: Yair Rodriguez gets six-month USADA suspension due to whereabouts violations
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez has been handed a six-months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) due to repeated whereabouts violations. USADA released a statement on the Rodriguez situation on Thursday (h/t MMA Fighting)