MMA News
Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa betting odds update
Adam Martin - March 10, 2020
The online sportsbooks first released the odds for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa last year, and now we have an update on them. After defeating Yoel Romero at UFC 241, Costa was expected to be next in line to fight Adesanya after he unified the middleweight titles against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. At the time of the original fight announcement, the sportbooks released the odds for the bout, with Adesanya opening as a -140 betting favorite and Costa being a +100 underdog.
Stipe Miocic gives timeline for return to the Octagon, expects Daniel Cormier next
Adam Martin - March 10, 2020
UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic has given a timeline for his return to the Octagon, saying he expects to fight Daniel Cormier in a trilogy match this summer. Miocic has been on the shelf with an eye injury and hasn’t fought since defeating Cormier in the pair’s rematch last August at UFC 241. The heavyweight division has essentially been put on hold as both Miocic and Cormier have taken the last six months off to heal from their injuries, but both men are finally getting healthy and the trilogy fight between them is likely going to happen within the next few months.
Valerie Loureda scolds UFC fans for mocking Joanna Jedrzejczyk, demands more respect for female fighters
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk sustained a serious hematoma in her UFC 248 split decision loss to Weili Zhang. By the time the pair’s war concluded, the former strawweight champ was nearly unrecognizable. Unfortunately, instead of praising Jedrzejczyk’s gutsy performance, some fight fans have tormented her with memes and negative comments. Jedrzejczyk’s training partner, Valerie Loureda, has not been impressed by this display. Speaking on her official Twitter account on Monday, Loureda scolded UFC fans for “making fun” of Jedrzejczyk, and demanded more respect for MMA’s talented female competitors.
Bob Arum trashes MMA, but admits Dana White feud is fabricated for mutual benefit
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
It’s no secret that boxing promoter Bob Arum is not an MMA fan. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Arum once again disparaged the entire sport.
Conor McGregor and Proper No. Twelve make massive donation to first responders
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
Eire Born Spirits, the company behind Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey and the founding team of Conor McGregor, McGregor’s manager Audie Attar and entrepreneur Ken Austin have announced that Proper No. Twelve will be donating $1.3 million dollars to first responder organizations around the world. The company announced this news in a Tuesday press release. Here are the details, per the release:
VIDEO | New footage surfaces of confrontation between Brian Ortega and Jay Park
Tom Taylor - March 10, 2020
One of the most high-profile encounters of Saturday’s UFC 248 card actually occurred outside the cage, as featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung had a run-in in the crowd. More accurately, Ortega actually slapped Jung’s friend, Korean rapper Jay Park — allegedly when Jung took a bathroom break.
VIDEO | Check out this amazing promo for Leon Edwards vs. Tyron Woodley at UFC London
Natasha Hooper - March 10, 2020
Leon Edwards has often felt overlooked in the welterweight division. However, his life-story is something to take notice of, and it takes centre stage in an amazing promo video released by BT Sport for UFC London. A new start, a new home 🇯🇲🏴Out of the streets and into the cage 👊
Weili Zhang explains how Coronavirus-related complications hindered her performance at UFC 248
Natasha Hooper - March 10, 2020
UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang recently explained how the Coronavirus crisis negatively impacted her performance at UFC 248. Zhang made the first defense of her strawweight title in the co-main event of the UFC 248 card, taking on former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Jay Park reacts to alleged Brian Ortega attack at UFC 248
Harry Kettle - March 10, 2020
Jay Park has given his thoughts and reaction to the alleged incident that took place between him and Brian Ortega at UFC 248 this past weekend. Over the course of the last few days, more details have emerged regarding the supposed altercation between South Korean music star Jay Park and UFC featherweight star Brian Ortega. “T-City” is said to have slapped Park after he was unhappy with his involvement in trying to talk trash about him on behalf of Chan Sung Jung aka The Korean Zombie.
Brian Ortega releases statement following altercation with The Korean Zombie and Jay Park at UFC 248
Christopher Taylor - March 9, 2020
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has released a statement following his altercation with The Korean Zombie and Jay Park at UFC 248. During Saturday night’s UFC 248 event in Las Vegas, ‘T-City’ allegedly slapped Jay Park, a friend of The Korean Zombie, this while Chan Sung Jung was taking a bathroom break.
Morgan Charriere: "I'm bringing a French army to London"
Alfredo Zullino - March 9, 2020
If you are a casual martial arts fan and you watch only UFC events, you probably haven’t heard of French featherweight Morgan Charriere. But what if we tell you that the Frenchman will probably be the next big thing in Europe’s MMA?
Patricio Freire says he'll be 'the greatest featherweight of all-time' with Bellator grand prix win
Cole Shelton - March 9, 2020
Patricio Freire believes he can cement his legacy during the Bellator featherweight grand prix. “Pitbull” already defeated Juan Archuleta in the opening round and will now take on Pedro Carvalho on Friday in the quarter-finals. It is a fight the Brazilian picked during the selection show but says he did it because of the date, not because of the opponent.
Israel Adesanya slams Yoel Romero for ruining “gifted” UFC 248 title shot
Adam Martin - March 9, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has slammed contender Yoel Romero for a poor performance in their title fight at UFC 248. Adesanya and Romero put on one of the worst title fights in UFC history as both men refused to engage with each other and each showed a shocking lack of aggressiveness in the bout. The fight went the full five-round distance, with Adesanya slightly outpointing Romero to retain his title by unanimous decision in a fight MMA fans found boring to watch.
Valentina Shevchenko believes Weili Zhang loses her title in next fight
Cole Shelton - March 9, 2020
Valentina Shevchenko doubts Weili Zhang will be a UFC champion for much longer. In the co-main event of UFC 248, Zhang edged out a split-decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The win also served as her first title defense since winning the belt with a first-round knockout win over Jessica Andrade.
VIDEO | Paulo Costa knocks out Logan Paul in sparring
Adam Martin - March 9, 2020
New training footage has emerged of UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa knocking out YouTube sensation Logan Paul in sparring. Costa is one of the best fighters in the UFC middleweight division while Paul is a YouTuber-turned combat sports star. Paul has had two boxing matches, including a professional bout against rival KSI last November, which resulted in Paul losing a controversial split decision after having points deducted due to illegal blows.
Abel Trujillo pleads guilty to misdemeanour in child sexual exploitation case
Natasha Hooper - March 9, 2020
Former lightweight fighter, Abel Trujillo has accepted a plea deal to avoid felony charges for child sexual exploitation in Castle Rock, Colorado. The 36-year old’s arrest was first reported by 9News in Colorado in 2019 after court documents regarding his case were released. He was initially charged with promotion of obscenity to a minor, attempted sexual exploitation of a child and sexual exploitation of a child (self/publish). He eventually agreed to plead guilty on one charge of a misdemeanour of promoting obscenity, the other felonies were dismissed, according to court documents.
VIDEO | SBG Ireland fighters, Pitbull brothers have confrontation at Bellator press conference
Tom Taylor - March 9, 2020
On Monday, Bellator MMA held a press conference featuring a host of the stars of its upcoming shows — including the “Pitbull” brothers Patricio and Patricky Freire and several fighters from the famed SBG Ireland camp, such as James Gallagher, Pedro Carvalho and Peter Queally. Things nearly got physical between these two groups at the culmination of this press conference.
Yoel Romero takes post-fight dig at Israel Adesanya, proclaims himself the 'people's champ'
Tom Taylor - March 9, 2020
Yoel Romero and Israel Adesanya’s UFC 248 middleweight title fight failed to live up to expectations, and both fighters seem to agree it’s because the other was afraid. Romero suggested exactly that on Twitter on Monday morning, sharing a heavily edited screenshot of the Wikipedia entry for the word “fear.”