MMA News
Report | Khabib Nurmagomedov's father hospitalized due to suspected pneumonia and flu
Chris Taylor - April 25, 2020
The father of current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap, has been hospitalized due to a suspected pneumonia and flu. The news comes from Ramazan Rabadanov, a sports commentator from Dagestan, Russia.
Dana White reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov will return in September or October against Ferguson vs. Gaethje winner
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2020
Dana White plans on having Khabib Nurmagomedov fight in September of October against the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov was expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 249 on April 18 against Ferguson. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans as the champion couldn’t get out of Russia, and the event was eventually canceled entirely.
Brian Ortega responds to Alexander Volkanovski’s invitation for UFC Fight Island
Cole Shelton - April 24, 2020
Brian Ortega is interested in fighting featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski on Fight Island. The UFC is set to return on May 9 with a stacked event and plans on having events every week. In June, however, the location is expected to change to the highly-anticipated Fight Island which Dana White has been talking about. If events do end up there Volkanovski wants to be a part of it.
Dominick Reyes believes punishment for Jon Jones arrest should be a rematch
Natasha Hooper - April 24, 2020
Dominick Reyes wants to be the judge, jury and executioner, as he serves up some overdue justice towards Jon Jones. “The Dominator” faced off against the light heavyweight champion in the main event of UFC 247. Jones ultimately claimed the decision victory, but many spectators believed Reyes delivered the stronger performance.
UFC reveals event headliners for newly announced May fight cards
Adam Martin - April 24, 2020
The UFC has revealed the headlining main events for two upcoming Fight Night cards on May 13 and on May 16 in Jacksonville, Florida, including Anthony Smith’s return. UFC president Dana White announced on Friday that the world’s biggest MMA promotion is ready to get rolling once again. White announced the full UFC 249 card that will take place on May 9 in Jacksonville, not to mention breaking the news that the UFC would hold two more cards on the 13th and 16th in the same venue. And now we have the headliners for both those cards.
Joe Rogan will provide commentary for UFC 249
Adam Martin - April 24, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed on Friday that Joe Rogan will be in the commentary booth for the upcoming UFC 249 event. The UFC announced on Friday that the promotion has reached a deal with ESPN to broadcast three upcoming events on May 9, 13, and 16 in Jacksonville, Florida. White has been trying for over a month now to hold a UFC event despite the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, and it appears as though he’s finally been able to accomplish his goal. And he’ll have his top color commentator along for the ride when he does it.
Report | First fight in the works for May 13 UFC card
Adam Martin - April 24, 2020
The first fight has been targeted for the May 13 card in Jacksonville, Florida: a heavyweight bout between veterans Ben Rothwell and Ovince Saint Preux. Saint Preux was scheduled to fight Ion Cutelaba at UFC Nebraska after Cutelaba’s rematch with Magomed Ankalaev at the original UFC 249 card fell apart. According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Cutelaba’s fight against OSP has also fallen through as the Moldovan fighter cannot re-enter the United States. Instead, OSP will now move up to heavyweight on short notice to take on Rothwell.
Dana White drops new Fight Island details
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2020
Speaking during a Friday Instagram live session with ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto, shortly after announcing the full UFC 249 card, UFC President Dana White dropped a few new details about his much discussed Fight Island plan. While White is hosting three consecutive events in Jacksonville starting on May 9, those events will only feature American-born fighters and fighters currently residing in the United States. In an effort to book fights featuring athletes living outside the US, White has repeatedly teased plans to promote an event on a private island.
Jon Jones chides MMA media, fellow fighters for focusing on him during pandemic
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has been in the headlines a lot over the last few weeks, both because he was recently arrested for DWI and aggravated use of a firearm, and because he’s been the target of trash talk from other fighters. Given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that is currently causing death and chaos the world over, Jones feels the MMA media and his fellow fighters have their priorities mixed up.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane suing former basketball coach for sexual abuse
Adam Martin - April 24, 2020
Bellator women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and two other women are suing a former basketball coach for sexual abuse. Macfarlane and the two other student-athletes filed a lawsuit on Thursday in Honolulu Circuit Court that names Punahou School and their former basketball coach Dwayne Yuen among the defendants. Hawaii News Now was the first to report the story.
Francis Ngannou displeased UFC shut down request for interim title fight with Rozenstruik
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2020
Francis Ngannou wanted the UFC to promote his May 9 heavyweight scrap with Jairzinho Rozenstruik to an interim title fight. From the sounds of it, the promotion isn’t interested. Ngannou’s request actually had some merit, as reigning heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has not fought since August, and has not yet given a clear timeframe for his next Octagon appearance.
Modestas Bukauskas recalls early pro days, eyes UFC debut on Fight Island
Alfredo Zullino - April 24, 2020
Being signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship is the dream of many fighters around the world. Modestas Bukauskas recently achieve that dream. Back in January, Bukauskas’ management announced his signing with the UFC. Since then, though, the Brit hasn’t been able to step foot into the Octagon.
Tyron Woodley and Dan Hooker continue war of words on social media
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2020
Tyron Woodley and Dan Hooker continue to go back and forth on Twitter after Hooker defended his close friend Israel Adesanya earlier this week. Despite the fact that he hasn’t fought since losing his Welterweight Championship to Kamaru Usman over a year ago, Woodley still seems to be the name on everyone’s lips in the world of mixed martial arts — probably because he’s been so active on social media.
Robert Whittaker breaks silence on hiatus, shuts down rumors of sick kids
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was expected to return to the cage against Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 last month, but ended up withdrawing from the card. It wasn’t immediately clear why Whittaker withdrew from this matchup, but when Dana White seemed to get emotional discussing the former UFC middleweight champ’s situation, the rumors started to fly. One website even reported that Whittaker had taken a step back to donate bone marrow to one of his children.
Alex Volkanovski calls out four fighters in hopes of securing title bout at UFC Fight Island
Harry Kettle - April 24, 2020
Alex Volkanovski has called out four fighters for a potential title showdown if the proposed UFC Fight Island plan goes ahead. “The Great” has held the UFC Featherweight Championship since December 2019, impressively beating former champion Max Holloway to capture the title at UFC 245. Ever since then it’s seemed as if the UFC has been interested in booking an immediate rematch, but due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it hasn’t quite materialized.
Manager explains how UFC is responding to fighters who don't want to compete during pandemic
Tom Taylor - April 24, 2020
The UFC is feverishly attempting to get back to regularly scheduled programming despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. That means many fighters will be getting the call to compete during the pandemic. Not all fighters, of course, are going to be willing to put themselves and their loved ones at risk of infection. Speaking to MMA Fighting, MMA manager Brian Butler-Au explained that, to his knowledge, fighters aren’t being penalized or punished if they decline to fight during the pandemic.
Leslie Smith reveals Bellator paid her "more than double" what UFC London fighters received
Natasha Hooper - April 24, 2020
Leslie Smith, who was scheduled to compete on the canceled Bellator 241 card, has revealed Bellator paid her more than double the $20,000 the fighters on the ill-fated UFC London card received for their canceled fights. All MMA events have been thrown up in the air due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bellator decided to postpone its events for the foreseeable future—including the Bellator 241 event Smith was supposed to fight Jessy Miele on. The UFC has also put its events on hold and canceled the UFC London card on March 21. However, UFC president Dana White intends on returning to action next month with a revised UFC 249 card.
Ariel Helwani absolutely roasts Bellator's Dillon Danis on social media
Christopher Taylor - April 23, 2020
Bellator fighter Dillon Danis took to social media earlier today where he proclaimed that the next time he sees Ariel Helwani, he plans on dropping him. The jiu-jitsu standout, Danis, took to Twitter with the following message for the popular ESPN journalist.