MMA News
Jessica Andrade explains why Weili Zhang is a tougher fight than Rose Namajunas
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2019
Jessica Andrade believes Weili Zhang is a tougher opponent when compared to Rose Namajunas. The Brazilian champion is set for her first title defense when she takes on the Chinese challenger in Zhang. Andrade had won the belt when she infamously knocked out Namajunas by slamming her on her head at UFC 237.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is eager to feel Dustin Poirier's speed and power at UFC 242
Cole Shelton - August 30, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to take on Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 242 next Saturday in Abu Dhabi. When the Russian champion makes the walk to the Octagon it will be for his second title defense. In his first, ’The Eagle’ submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round of their fight at UFC 229. Khabib used his wrestling to maul Conor, and at one point even dropped the Irishman while they were standing.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why Dustin Poirier is 'much better' than Conor McGregor
Thomas Taylor - August 30, 2019
Next weekend, in the main event of UFC 242, Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his lightweight title opposite interim champion Dustin Poirier. While this fight is not generating the same kind of buzz as Nurmagomedov’s 2018 battle with Conor McGregor, the champ considers it a much more dangerous fight. Nurmagomedov shared his belief that Poirier is a more dangerous test than McGregor on Friday’s UFC 242 media conference call.
UFC Shenzhen loses main card fight
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
UFC Shenzhen has lost one of its main card fights at the eleventh hour. Lu Zhenghong has been forced out of his featherweight battle with Movsar Evloev due a cut. The cut was sustained earlier this week, and it did not heal fast enough to allow him to fight. This Zhenghong vs. Evloev bout has been replaced on the main card by a welterweight bout between between Song Kenan and Derrick Krantz.
Andrea Lee fighting for a lot more than title contention at UFC 242
Mike Heck - August 30, 2019
Andrea Lee has put herself in a position where a title shot is getting closer and closer. She will look to take a big step in that direction next Saturday night when she faces Joanne Calderwood at UFC 242. The event will take place at The Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and the women’s flyweight matchup will be the featured preliminary bout.
Henry Cejudo tells Germaine de Randamie to 'bend the knee'
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
Over the last few weeks, UFC flyweight and bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo has called out seemingly everybody on the UFC roster — Urijah Faber, Cody Garbrandt, Dominick Cruz, Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko, Jose Aldo, and Frankie Edgar to name a few. From the looks of it, he’s not done with the callouts yet. On Monday afternoon, on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, upcoming UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Germaine de Randamie recounted a boxing match she had against a heavier, male fighter in the early days of her career. Helwani then brought this story to the attention of Henry Cejudo — who clearly has no objection to calling out women — on Twitter.
Junior dos Santos says trilogy fight between Stipe Miocic & Daniel Cormier doesn't make sense
Fernando Quiles - August 30, 2019
Junior dos Santos isn’t sold on a potential trilogy bout between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Miocic and Cormier are coming off their UFC 241 rematch earlier this month. While Cormier knocked out Miocic in their first encounter, Miocic got his revenge with a fourth-round TKO in the rematch to reclaim the heavyweight gold. With the pair tied at 1-1 and Cormier being up on all scorecards before being stopped, many believe a third bout makes sense should “DC” choose to stick around.
Mairbek Taisumov confident he'll soon be fighting ranked opponents on US soil
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
Mairbek Taisumov has won his last six fights — five of them via knockout. Under ordinary circumstances, the Russian-Austrian lightweight would have earned a ranked opponent by now. Yet his situation has been anything but normal. Despite his incredible success in the UFC lightweight division, Taisumov has been hindered by a litany of issues unrelated to fighting — most notably a longstanding difficulty obtaining a United States visa, and more recently, a United States Anti-Doping Agency suspension due to a tainted dietary supplement.
Chael Sonnen to Jon Jones: 'I'd rather see you type lines than snort them'
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
Chael Sonnen often mentions Jon Jones on his podcast. Unfortunately, he feels his comments on Jones are occasionally taken out of context, which prompts Jones to fire back on Twitter. According to Sonnen, however, the silver lining is that Jones is better off trash talking on Twitter than getting into trouble outside the cage.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says he might end up in jail if he sees Conor McGregor again
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
If you thought the beef between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor would diminish with time, think again. According to the reigning UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov, he and the former champ McGregor will always be at odds. So much so that if they ever cross paths out in he world, violence will ensue — even it means jail time.
Dominick Cruz responds to Henry Cejudo callout
Tom Taylor - August 30, 2019
Earlier this week, UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo called for a showdown with the former champion Dominick Cruz — a man he considers an “easy” fight. A public service announcement from Triple C. “Tune up fight” @DominickCruz @danawhite pic.twitter.com/hkUnnz8xaD
UFC Shenzhen weigh-in results: one misses weight
Cole Shelton - August 29, 2019
The UFC heads to Shenzhen, China on Saturday, Aug. 31 for the first time in promotional history for UFC Shenzhen. In the main event, Jessica Andrade looks to defend her strawweight title when she takes on Weili Zhang. The co-main event of the card features a key welterweight contest as Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos takes on Li Jingliang.
Frankie Edgar explains why he hesitated on moving down to bantamweight
Fernando Quiles - August 29, 2019
Frankie Edgar is making the move to 135 pounds, but it took quite a bit of time. Edgar has always been known as the underdog who proved his doubters wrong. Despite his size, “The Answer” captured the UFC lightweight title and was one of the elite title contenders with his featherweight move. While Edgar enjoyed great success at 145 pounds, he never could capture the gold in that weight class.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib's cousin, set for UFC debut
Tom Taylor - August 29, 2019
Abubakar Nurmagomedov, the cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is set to make his Octagon debut at UFC Moscow on November 9. The Russian is expected to fight Germany’s David Zawada. This news was first reported by ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto, who was informed by manager Ali Abdelaziz. Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-2-1), Khabib's cousin, will make his UFC debut on Nov. 9 at UFC Fight Night in Moscow, per his manager Ali Abdelaziz. He will fight David Zawada. Abubakar likely would have fought in Abu Dhabi next week, but was recovering from injury.
Nick Diaz to Georges St-Pierre: 'Come and get some'
Tom Taylor - August 29, 2019
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who is retired from competition, recently explained that he has nothing to gain by rematching his former foe Nick Diaz. “I think this guy’s gonna hate me until the day I die. It’s unbelievable,” St-Pierre told Chael Sonnen of Diaz. “I know he doesn’t like me, and he looks to get me all the time. But, I genuinely like the guy. I’m telling you the truth.
Paulo Costa, five others, encouraged to change weight classes by CSAC
Mike Heck - August 29, 2019
UFC 241 went down a couple of weeks ago in Anaheim, Calif., but the aftermath of the memorable event continues as six fighters — including Paulo Costa — have been recommended to move up a weight class by the California State Athletic Commission. Along with Costa, who defeated Yoel Romero in their middleweight featured bout at the event, bantamweights Brandon Davis, Manny Bermudez, and Kyung Ho Kang, women’s flyweight Sabina Mazo, and featherweight Sodiq Yusuff have been given the recommendation.
Cain Velasquez discusses UFC return after lucha libre debut
Tom Taylor - August 29, 2019
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez recently made his lucha libre debut at Triplemania XXVII in Mexico City. Not only did the former champ look very impressive in this debut, be he also loved the experience. So much so that he’s not sure when he’ll return to the Octagon. “For me, I know what I can do and I feel like learning wrestling for the short time that I’ve learned it, it feels very natural to me,” Velasquez told MMA Junkie of his pro wrestling debut. “I loved it. I love going out there and competing and I can’t wait to do more of it.
Michael Bisping: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier lacks hype
Fernando Quiles - August 29, 2019
Michael Bisping doesn’t see UFC 242, which will be headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier, bringing in high pay-per-view numbers. On Sept. 7, Nurmagomedov will take on Poirier in a lightweight title unification bout. “The Eagle” holds the lightweight title, while Poirier is recognized as the interim champion.