MMA News
Leon Edwards guarantees he will fight in 2020, hopes to fight "big name" Nick Diaz
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Leon Edwards says he will fight in 2020 and hopes that bout will be against a big name like Nick Diaz. Edwards was expected to fight in March at UFC London against Tyron Woodley. However, just a week before the event was set to take place it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Englishman hasn’t been able to take a fight due to England’s lockdown rules and the closing of gyms.
Henry Cejudo claims he told Marlon Vera how to beat Sean O’Malley
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Henry Cejudo says he talked to Marlon Vera about how to beat Sean O’Malley ahead of their fight at UFC 252. In the lead up to the fight, many thought O’Malley would remain undefeated and get his hand raised. Yet, it was Vera who got the job done by first-round TKO, and according to Cejudo, he told “Chito” to go after the leg.
Mike Perry sends a taunting message to “old man” Nick Diaz: “You can cut a cheque and I’ll show up”
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Mike Perry is the latest fighter that has called out Nick Diaz. The fan-favorite in Perry took to social media to send a couple of taunting messages to Diaz calling him out after it was reported he would return in 2021. Immediately, fans started to call for fights like the Robbie Lawler rematch or a scrap with Jorge Masvidal. Yet, “Platinum” believes he should be the one to welcome Diaz back to the Octagon.
Video | Paulo Costa flaunts his physique ahead of UFC 253 title fight with Israel Adesanya
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
The most anticipated middleweight title fight in UFC history will take place later this month when Paulo Costa challenges Israel Adesanya on September 26. Both men will enter the UFC 253 headliner sporting perfect professional records and thus someone’s zero will have to go.
Tyson Nam confident he will KO Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 10: "I just have to land the right hand once"
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Tyson Nam expects to earn another knockout win when he faces Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 10. Nam is coming off his first UFC win as he scored a 32-second knockout win over Zarrukh Adashev back in June. For the Hawaiian, after the win, he was looking to make a quick turnaround and had his eye on Schnell.
Mike Rodriguez expecting a "three-round war" against Ed Herman at UFC Vegas 10
Cole Shelton - September 10, 2020
Mike Rodriguez wanted to get another fight this year but did not expect it to happen just three weeks following his latest contest. Rodriguez fought back on August 22 and scored a first-round knockout over Marcin Prachnio in what was the final fight on his contract. After the fight, the UFC made it clear they wanted to re-sign him and get another fight quickly. So, Rodriguez stayed in shape and when he got the call to fight Ed Herman, it was an immediate yes.
Ben Askren slams "dumb" Dustin Poirier after Tony Ferguson fight fails to come to fruition
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
Like many of us, Ben Askren was very disappointed to hear that a targeted lightweight fight between Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson has fallen apart. Earlier this month it was reported that the Ultimate Fighting Championship was looking to put on a fight between the former interim lightweight title holders in Poirier and Ferguson at UFC 254.
Breaking! Dustin Poirier will NOT fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 254
Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020
A highly anticipated lightweight fight between former interim title holders Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson is no longer being targeted for UFC 254. According to ESPN‘s Ariel Helwani, Poirier is headed back to his home in Louisiana after negotiations for a fight with ‘El Cucuy’ fell through.
Stephen Thompson: Costa not a technical striker "at all" Adesanya will "have a field day"
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Stephen Thompson believes UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will “have a field day” when he takes on hulking knockout artist Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa will collide for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26. Thompson, a striking specialist himself, believes the kickboxing transplant Adesanya will go to work on the powerful Costa when the cage door closes.
Jared Cannonier "more than ready" to fight Adesanya, Costa on short notice
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Jared Cannonier says he is more than ready to step in if Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa is forced out of the UFC 253 main event. Costa will challenge Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 253, scheduled for September 26. Cannonier, meanwhile, is scheduled to take on the division’s former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 254 roughly a month later, on October 24.
DAZN reportedly deemed Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jorge Masvidal "premium" opponents for Canelo Alvarez
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Streaming service DAZN reportedly considered UFC stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jorge Masvidal as “premium” opponents for boxing ace Canelo Alvarez. Canelo recently entered into a high-profile lawsuit with DAZN, seeking $280M in damages.
Bellator 245 weigh-in results: Cat Zingano's opponent misses weight by huge margin
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
On Friday night, Bellator MMA will promote the first card of a two-event weekend in Bellator 245, which features a host of high-profile fighters. In the Bellator 245 main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida will lock horns with Phil Davis in a rematch of a 2013 fight that occurred in the UFC’s Octagon. The winner of the fight will be well positioned for a crack at new Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who assumed the throne with a blistering knockout win over Ryan Bader last month.
UFC rankings update: Daniel Cormier's retirement causes pound-for-pound shuffle
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last weekend’s UFC Vegas 9 card, and despite the lack of big names on the bill, there have been some interesting changes. On of the biggest changes to the UFC rankings stems from the UFC Vegas 9 main event, in which Alistair Overeem thumped Augusto Sakai en route to a fifth-round TKO win. This performance, which moved Overeem onto a two-fight win-streak, was enough to push him into the No. 5 spot in the heavyweight division.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN+ 35: Waterson vs. Hill
Adam Martin - September 10, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 13 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 35: Waterson vs. Hill event. In the main event, a pair of top-15 women’s strawweights go at is as Michelle Waterson takes on Angela Hill. Waterson is coming off of back-to-back decision losses to Carla Esparza and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, while Hill recently saw her four-fight win streak snapped with a split decision loss to Claudia Gadelha.
Paulo Costa doesn't want to beat Israel Adesanya quickly
Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020
Paulo Costa hopes to put a bit of a hurting on UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya when they step into the cage together at UFC 253. Once he’s done that—and sufficiently entertained the fans—he intends to put a stamp on things with yet another stoppage win.
Cat Zingano explains “very good decision” to part ways with UFC for Bellator
Harry Kettle - September 10, 2020
Bellator featherweight Cat Zingano has explained why she is satisfied with her decision to join the promotion after leaving the UFC. Zingano, 38, is set to make her promotional debut tomorrow night when she squares off against Gabrielle Holloway in the co-main event of Bellator 245. She’s been officially signed as a member of the roster for almost a year now, and she’s certainly ready to prove to the world why she could be a top contender in her new home.
Henry Cejudo begs UFC President Dana White to allow him to introduce the world to C4
Harry Kettle - September 10, 2020
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has begged Dana White to allow him to try and win another title in the promotion. Cejudo has been enjoying retirement ever since he successfully defended the Bantamweight Championship against the returning Dominick Cruz in May. Still, while he may have “retired”, he hasn’t really stopped campaigning for a big fight if and when he decides to return to the Octagon.
Alistair Overeem makes it clear he wants Jairzinho Rozenstruik rematch: "I still have a score to settle"
Adam Martin - September 9, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem says that he “still has a score to settle” with rival Jairzinho Rozenstruik and he wants a rematch. Overeem is coming off of an impressive fifth-round TKO victory over Augusto Sakai at UFC on ESPN+ 34. The veteran heavyweight has won four of his last five fights by knockout, with the lone blemish in that stretch a controversial KO loss to Rozenstruik last December. After dominating the first four rounds of the fight, Overeem was knocked down by a punch from Rozenstruik with just four seconds left, and referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight.