MMA News
Video | First gameplay footage released for EA Sports UFC 4 video game
Harry Kettle - July 23, 2020
The first gameplay footage for the new EA Sports UFC 4 video game has been released to the public. While it may not be at the heart of everyone’s list of priorities in mixed martial arts, the release of the new UFC 4 game is bound to cause a stir as fans and fighters alike continue to hype the latest effort from EA Sports in their pursuit of cracking the MMA market.
Henry Cejudo sends a message to Dana White, promises to make the featherweight division great
Harry Kettle - July 23, 2020
Former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo has made his intentions clear after asking UFC president Dana White for a shot at the Featherweight Championship. Cejudo, who retired in the wake of his win over Dominick Cruz earlier this year, has already conquered the flyweight and bantamweight division. Now, he’s setting his sights on becoming the first UFC fighter ever to win a title in three different weight classes.
Petr Yan fires back at Aljamain Sterling for “paper champion” comments
Natasha Hooper - July 23, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has responded after Aljamain Sterling referred to him as a “paper champion.” Henry Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA earlier this year, leaving the bantamweight title up for grabs. As a result, Petr Yan stood up to take on UFC veteran Jose Aldo in a vacant title clash at UFC 251. The UFC standout administered an onslaught of unanswered blows which resulted in his fifth-round TKO victory and the 135-pound crown. He is also undefeated since joining the organization in 2018, with previous wins against Urijah Faber and Jimmie Rivera.
Aljamain Sterling rips “paper champion” Petr Yan over his “single ply” resume
Natasha Hooper - July 23, 2020
Aljamain Sterling thinks Petr Yan’s record is nothing to write home about, as he slammed the UFC bantamweight kingpin for being a “paper champion”. After Henry Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA, the bantamweight title was open for the taking. Therefore UFC standout Petr Yan and Jose Aldo faced off at UFC 251 for a shot at the title. After four rounds of action, the Russian bantamweight sealed the TKO victory in the final round. He is currently undefeated since joining the UFC in 2018 and has beaten the likes of Urijah Faber and Jimmie Rivera.
Floyd Mayweather shuts down talk of MMA bout, willing to rematch Conor McGregor in boxing
Tom Taylor - July 23, 2020
Floyd Mayweather won’t be competing in MMA, but he’s willing to rematch former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor in the boxing ring. Mayweather and McGregor fought in 2017, in one of the most lucrative boxing matches in history. Mayweather ended up winning the fight with fairly decisive tenth-round TKO.
Georges St-Pierre responds to Kamaru Usman callout
Tom Taylor - July 23, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre has responded to a recent callout from reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman, who is fresh off a short-notice decision win over Jorge Masvidal, recently expressed interest fighting St-Pierre next.
Mike Perry calls for main event rematch against Geoff Neal since the UFC is letting “anybody headline”
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020
Mike Perry is still chasing a rematch with Geoff Neal. Perry and Neal fought last December at UFC 245 where it was Neal who got the job done by knockout in the first round. Since then, “Platinum” has been campaigning for a rematch and now has taken it a step further calling for the rematch to be a main event.
Photo | Henry Cejudo calls out Alexander Volkanovski to prove he's the GOAT of MMA
Adam Martin - July 22, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo has once again called out Alexander Volkanovski to prove that he is the GOAT of mixed martial arts. Cejudo retired from MMA in May immediately following a TKO win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, but in the two months since then, he has been all over social media calling out the UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski. Cejudo has been critical of Volkanovski’s reign as a champion and believes that he stole a decision from Max Holloway at UFC 251.
Khabib Nurmagomedov issuses statement following the death of his father: "I hope that you were happy with me"
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov has issued a public statement following the death of his father, Abdulmanap. Abdulmanap was Khabib’s longtime coach and the two of them were very close. Unfortunately, the 57-year-old contracted COVID-19 and had died to complications from the virus. It was a sad day for the MMA world when Khabib’s father passed away, and now Khabib took to Instagram to share a heartfelt statement on his father.
Dan Lambert would be "really surprised" if Amanda Nunes decides to retire
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020
American Top Team owner, Dan Lambert doesn’t expect Amanda Nunes to retire from MMA. Following Nunes’ UFC 250 win over Felicia Spencer where she defended her featherweight title, the Brazilian has hinted at retirement. Nunes has accomplished everything in the sport from being a champ-champ to now defending both titles. Nunes is also widely considered the GOAT of women’s MMA.
Jesse Ronson expects to earn Fight of the Night bonus in UFC return against Nicolas Dalby
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020
Jesse Ronson didn’t believe he would make it back to the UFC. Ronson was in the UFC from September 2013 to July 2014, but the Canadian went 0-3 with three split decision losses to Michel Prazeres, Francisco Trinaldo, and Kevin Lee. He was then fighting on the regional scenes when he got the call to fight Diego Ferreira on short notice at UFC 231. However, Ronson was pulled from the event due to him having to cut too much weight and Sean Shelby told him he’d never be signed by the UFC again.
Ricky Bandejas ecstatic to headline Bellator's return, eyes KO win over Sergio Pettis
Cole Shelton - July 22, 2020
Ricky Bandejas is excited to headline his first Bellator show. In the main event of Bellator 242, which will be the promotions first card since COVID-19, Bandejas is taking on UFC veteran, Sergio Pettis. Yet, for the longest time, the now American Top Team fighter didn’t know he would be the main event.
Robert Whittaker breaks down Adesanya vs. Costa title fight
Tom Taylor - July 22, 2020
Robert Whittaker believes UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has the skills to defeat Paulo Costa. That being said, Whittaker sees Costa as a dangerous challenge for the champion. The Australian talent broke down the Adesanya vs. Costa matchup, which is expected to occur at UFC 253 in September, during a media scrum ahead of his Saturday night showdown with Darren Till.
Marlon Moraes knows why Dana White hasn't given Aljamain Sterling a title shot: "Dana wants to see blood"
Adam Martin - July 22, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes believes he knows why UFC president Dana White hasn’t given Aljamain Sterling a title shot at 135lbs yet. Sterling tapped out Cory Sandhagen in the first round of their bout at UFC 250 which was supposed to be a No. 1 contender fight in the UFC bantamweight division. After Petr Yan defeated Jose Aldo at UFC 251 to win the vacant UFC bantamweight belt, fans and media naturally assumed that Sterling would be next in line for the title. However, White has been non-committal towards giving Sterling the title shot just yet. Moraes believes he knows why.
UFC on ESPN+30 medical suspensions: Joseph Benavidez out with forehead laceration
Tom Taylor - July 22, 2020
The medical suspensions for last Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 30 card are in, and as expected, Joseph Benavidez will be out for a little while. Benavidez took on Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC on ESPN+ 30 main card, and lost by way of submission after being dropped multiple times.
Jack Hermansson plans on fighting Paulo Costa for middleweight title after defeating Till-Whittaker winner
Harry Kettle - July 22, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Jack Hermansson plans on fighting Paulo Costa for the UFC Middleweight Championship after beating the winner of this weekend’s Darren Till vs. Robert Whittaker fight. Hermansson is riding a real wave of momentum right now in the wake of his huge submission win over Kelvin Gastelum on Fight Island last Saturday night. In the immediate aftermath of the win, “The Joker” proceeded to lay out a pretty detailed plan for what he expects the middleweight division to look like over the course of the next few months.
“The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis set to return to the cage
Harry Kettle - July 22, 2020
As reported by MMA Fighting, MMA veteran Marcus Davis is set to return to the cage at the age of 46 when he faces Nick Alley at Premier FC 31. The bout is set to take place on October 3 at welterweight, and it will serve as the first professional mixed martial arts fight for Davis since he lost to Ryan Sanders via TKO back in February 2014. Davis is best known for his stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, competing on The Ultimate Fighter’s second season before compiling a 9-6 record in the promotion.
Shogun Rua explains motivation behind third bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Natasha Hooper - July 22, 2020
Shogun Rua has explained his reasons for wanting to fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira a third time, despite already beating him twice. Shogun has already picked up two victories to his name against Nogueira, but he still remains excited about their third showdown. They are scheduled to collide in the light-heavyweight co-main event of UFC on ESPN 14 this weekend on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.