MMA News
UFC rankings update: Darren Till debuts in middleweight top-15
Tom Taylor - November 5, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of Saturday’s UFC 244 card. While main event winner Jorge Masvidal didn’t move up in his division for defeating Nate Diaz, co-main event winner Darren Till has made a massive entrance to the middleweight division for defeating Kelvin Gastelum. Here are the newest UFC rankings, featuring Till, Gastelum, Masvidal, Diaz, another UFC 244 stars.
Israel Adesanya's plan is to clean out middleweight then fight Jon Jones in 2021
Adam Martin - November 5, 2019
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says his plan is to clean out the middleweight division then fight UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in 2021. Speaking to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com, Adesanya laid out his plans for the next two years of his fighting career. Though Adesanya and Jones have been talking smack to each other all over social media ever since Adesanya defeated Robert Whittaker to win the middleweight strap at UFC 243, Adesanya does not want to deviate from his plan.
Brendan Schaub says UFC 244 stoppage is best-case scenario for Nate Diaz
Fernando Quiles - November 5, 2019
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub doesn’t believe Nate Diaz would’ve pulled off a comeback over Jorge Masvidal. Diaz and Masvidal shared the Octagon this past Saturday night in the main event of UFC 244. The two competed for the one-time-only BMF championship. The bout didn’t end the way most had hoped. The Octagon-side doctor called a halt to the contest before the fourth round could begin due to cuts formed on Diaz’s eyebrow and under his eye. Masvidal was declared the winner.
Darren Till wants Israel Adesanya: 'We're meant to fight'
Adam Martin - November 5, 2019
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till says a fight against UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is “meant to happen.” Fresh off of a split decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244, Till is now ranked in the top-five of the UFC middleweight division. Adesanya seems likely to fight Yoel Romero next, leaving Till with a matchup against a top contender like Jared Cannonier or Robert Whittaker. With one more big win, Till could get a title shot against Adesanya.
Elias Theodorou gets first fight outside of the UFC
Tom Taylor - November 5, 2019
Back in May, ranked UFC middleweight contender Elias Theodorou was handed his walking papers and released from the UFC. Since then, we’ve all been wondering where he’ll land. Bellator and ONE Championship seemed like options. So too did the PFL, though he would have to compete at light heavyweight since the league does not currently have a middleweight division.
Dana White denies Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero rumors
Tom Taylor - November 5, 2019
With top middleweight contender Paulo Costa injured, the expectation has been that Yoel Romero will get the call to fight reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya next. UFC President Dana White says not so fast.
Israel Adesanya compares Yoel Romero's 'cheating' to Eddie Guerrero
Harry Kettle - November 5, 2019
Israel Adesanya has taken a cheeky shot at middleweight contender Yoel Romero, implying that the veteran has cheated in the past. Adesanya is coming off of his UFC Middleweight Championship triumph over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243, which firmly established him as the king of the 185-pound division. Romero, on the other hand, recently lost a close decision to Paulo Costa, which marked a third loss in his last four fights.
MMA veteran Phil Baroni shares similar scars to Nate Diaz but his payday pales in comparison
Natasha Hooper - November 5, 2019
MMA veteran Phil Baroni feels that his battle scars from fighting match up to those of Nate Diaz, but the New York native has never received the same payouts compared to the recent “BMF” contender. On Saturday, in the main event of UFC 244, Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz put their reputations on the line in a BMF title fight. “Gamebred” delivered accurate and powerful strikes to maintain dominance. Meanwhile, Nate Diaz ate some killer kicks and punches, but continued to rally and push forward with his own offence.
Jake Shields believes Nate Diaz's cut should not have ended fight, prefers McGregor trilogy over Masvidal rematch
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2019
Jake Shields is not happy with how the UFC 244 main event ended. Shields, a longtime teammate of Nate Diaz, was in New York City to support his training partner in his UFC 244 fight with Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal ended up winning this fight due to a cut on Diaz’s brow.
Israel Adesanya shares bold prediction for potential Robert Whittaker vs Kelvin Gastelum fight
Natasha Hooper - November 5, 2019
During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Israel Adesanya made a bold prediction for a potential fight between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum. Adesanya, of course, is well acquainted with both men.
Robert Whittaker's coach criticizes fans who disliked UFC 244 co-main event
Harry Kettle - November 5, 2019
Robert Whittaker’s coach Fabricio Itte has criticized fans that didn’t enjoy Darren Till vs Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 244. The co-main event this past weekend was a tactical affair, with Till coming out on top via split decision. The fight certainly had its moments with both men getting in a few good shots, but in comparison to some of their previous outings in the Octagon, it didn’t have the same kind of spark in the eyes of many fans.
Conor McGregor and his team 'vehemently deny' sexual assault allegations
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2019
Conor McGregor and his manager Audie Attar are firmly denying the sexual assault allegations made against the Irish star. The New York Times has come out twice this year indicating that the former two division UFC champion has been accused of sexual assault. In both reports, McGregor’s spokesperson denied the claims.
UFC 244 doctor responds to controversial main event stoppage, receiving threats
Mike Heck - November 4, 2019
In the aftermath of the UFC 244 main event, it would seem that you would want to be anyone else besides the doctor who called a stop to Saturday’s BMF Title fight. Dr. Nitin K. Sethi, a New York-based neurologist, was the cage side physician called into the Octagon after the third round of the bout between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden on Saturday evening. Diaz had suffered a pair of cuts around his right eye, including a highly visible one above the eye. Sethi and Diaz conversed with the fighter saying, as expected, that he was OK. Sethi would then head over to referee Dan Miragliotta and made the decision to stop the fight, which lead to a third-round TKO win for Masvidal.
Jorge Masvidal believes he'd be a 'legitimate' threat to Canelo Alvarez in a boxing match
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2019
After Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz at UFC 244, he had an interesting callout at the post-fight press conference in the form of boxing champion Canelo Alvarez. He said it is a fight he wants. On, Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Masvidal backed those claims even more.
Marvin Vettori calls out Darren Till after UFC 244
Alfredo Zullino - November 4, 2019
There is a new contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division and Marvin Vettori is not happy about it. During the UFC 500th show, Darren Till moved up for the first time under the limit of 185 pounds as he fought Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event of UFC 244.
Kevin Lee changes his mind, now aiming for Conor McGregor or winner of Khabib vs. Ferguson
Adam Martin - November 4, 2019
It looks like Kevin Lee may not fight Islam Makhachev after all. A day after saying he would fight the Russian prospect, Lee has some new names on his mind. Fresh off his vicious head kick win over Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244, Lee told reporters following the event that he wanted Makhachev next. But in a new interview with TMZ on Monday, Lee proposed some other fights instead. Now Lee is saying he’s looking for big-name fights and listed Conor McGregor as well as the winner of Khabib Nurmagomdov vs. Tony Ferguson as his preferred opponents.
Robert Whittaker rates Darren Till's middleweight debut
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2019
At UFC 244, former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till picked up his first victory as a middleweight, defeating former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum by split decision. Till’s debut middleweight victory seems to have impressed the division’s former ruler Robert Whittaker. Whittaker weighed in on the fight and Till’s middleweight future on Grange TV.
Corey Anderson explains why he deserves title shot before Dominick Reyes
Tom Taylor - November 4, 2019
Corey Anderson and Dominick Reyes are two of the top contenders in the UFC light heavyweight division. Both have arguably earned the opportunity to fight the champion, Jon Jones. Only one of them, of course, will get the call to do so next.