MMA News
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.
UFC Vegas 16 weigh-in results: Headliners on point, co-headliner misses weight
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2020
On Saturday night, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Vegas 16 card out of the promotion’s Apex facility. The card was originally expected to be headlined by a middleweight fight between Jack Hermansson and Darren Till. When Till was forced off the card, Hermansson accepted a short notice fight with Kevin Holland, who was ultimately also forced off the card after testing positive for COVID-19. The UFC then made a third attempt at finding Hermansson an opponent, matching him up with Marvin Vettori, who had originally been scheduled to fight Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza next weekend. The third time seems to have been the charm.
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.
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.
Anthony Johnson discusses his return to the UFC: “I’m trying to bury everybody”
Harry Kettle - December 4, 2020
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson has spoken about his desire to fight anyone and everyone that is put in his path upon returning to the UFC. It’s been almost four years since the former light heavyweight contender walked away from the promotion after his second submission loss to Daniel Cormier, but now, he’s hoping to step back into the Octagon and compete once again.
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.
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.
Donald Cerrone says he will "be ready" for Niko Price rematch next spring
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
UFC welterweight fan favorite Donald Cerrone says he will “be ready” for a rematch against recent opponent Niko Price for next spring. Cerrone and Price battled to a hard-fought majority draw at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley in September. After the fight, both men expressed interest in a rematch because the draw result was unsatisfying for both. However, that rematch won’t be happening anytime soon. Price was recently suspended for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission for marijuana, so he will be on the shelf for a while.
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.
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.
Bi Nguyen looks to close out chaotic 2020 with big win over Jihin Radzuan
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
ONE Championship atomweight star Bi Nguyen is hoping to close out a chaotic year with a huge win over Malaysia’s Jihin Radzuan at ONE: Big Bang, which goes down on the promotion’s home turf in Singapore this Friday. The coronavirus pandemic made 2020 a bumpy year for just about everyone, but it was particularly frustrating for Nguyen. The 31-year-old striking specialist’s bad luck began early in the year, when she was forced out of planned February fight with Japan’s Itsuki Hirata with an injury. March brought another tough break, as Nguyen’s planned Muay Thai bout against Rudzma Abubakar fell through amid the early chaos of the pandemic. The trouble then continued in the third quarter of the year, when ONE Championship’s attempt to reschedule the failed February fight with Hirata came up empty—ostensibly because the Japanese fighter didn’t sign her contract.
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)
Aljamain Sterling slams "cheater" TJ Dillashaw, suggests he could have found a way to dope during layoff
Adam Martin - December 3, 2020
UFC bantamweight Aljamain Sterling slammed “cheater” TJ Dillashaw, suggesting that he could have found a way to dope during his long layoff. In January 2019, Dillashaw failed a drug test for EPO and was suspended for two years. He also lost the UFC bantamweight title in the process. After two long years away from the Octagon, Dillashaw is now ready to resume his MMA career next month. The former two-time UFC bantamweight champion does not have his next opponent booked yet, but after speaking with ESPN during a Thursday interview, it’s clear that he has his sights set high.
Henry Cejudo says he "might just make a comeback" after TJ Dillashaw's trash talk
Tom Taylor - December 3, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo is teasing a comeback after some trash talk from his former opponent TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw and Cejudo have fought once before. They met in early 2019, when Dillashaw, then the bantamweight champion, dropped down to flyweight to challenge Cejudo for that division’s title.