MMA News

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

Tyson Fury has confirmed that his heavyweight boxing title match against Anthony Joshua will take place on August 14 in Saudi Arabia. Fury took to social media on Sunday to make the announcement official. Promoter Eddie Hearn had already hinted at the fight taking place on either August 7 or August 14, but ultimately they settled on August 14 as the date. The fight will take place in Saudi Arabia.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

Speaking to the media following UFC 262, president Dana White said that “nobody is going to force Jon Jones to fight” in the Octagon again. White and Jones have been involved in very public contract negotiations for a potential showdown with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Jones and Ngannou both want the fight, but Jones wants more than the promotion’s offer of $10 million, with suggestions that he could want $30 million for the fight. With White and the UFC not budging on their offer, the promotion went ahead and booked Ngannou against No. 1 contender Derrick Lewis. It leaves Jones on the sidelines once again, and while he could potentially fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Lewis 2, that’s not set in stone, either.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

Newly-crowned UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira slept with his belt the night after stopping Michael Chandler to win it at UFC 262. Oliveira knocked out Chandler in the second round of the UFC 262 headliner to become the promotion’s new champion at 155lbs. Oliveira has been in the UFC since 2010 so to win the title 11 years later after first making his organizational debut is quite an accomplishment. It’s proof that if you keep working hard and improve your game that anyone in this sport can become a champion. Finding the correct weight class also helps, as Oliveira has clearly been much more effective as a lightweight than he was while competing at featherweight.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC middleweight Chris Weidman provided a health update on his broken leg, saying “Pain is getting way more tolerable while standing.” Weidman broke his leg last month at UFC 261 when the first leg kick he threw against Uriah Hall was checked and resulted in Weidman’s right leg snapping in half. It was one of the most brutal injuries we have ever seen inside the Octagon and Weidman figures to have a long road to recovery from his ailment. “The All-American” has been regularly updating his fans on social media about the status of his leg, and on Sunday he posted a positive health update, where he also shared a picture of his good leg and his bad leg.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev reacted after Charles Oliveira defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262, telling him “see you soon.” Oliveira pulled off an incredible win over Chandler at Saturday’s big UFC pay-per-view card when he was able to finish him with strikes in the second round for his ninth straight win. With UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring from the sport a few months back and giving up his title, Oliveira is now the undisputed champion at 155lbs. It’s an incredible accomplishment and he deserves to take some time off to enjoy the belt. But there are plenty of contenders who are eagerly waiting to fight him, including Makhachev.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz called out fellow MMA legend Chuck Liddell for a fourth fight between the two, saying “we need to run it back.” Ortiz and Liddell have previously met three times. The first two times, Liddell was able to finish Ortiz with strikes at the height of his career in the UFC. The third time, these two met three years ago in their late 40s and this time, Ortiz got the last laugh when he was able to knock Liddell out. The series is 2-1 for Liddell, but Ortiz wants to even it up.

Adam Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC middleweight Andre Muniz praised Ronaldo Souza after becoming the first man to submit him in MMA at UFC 262, saying “It was a privilege.” Muniz was the underdog heading into the fight on Saturday night against Souza, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, but he defied the odds and pulled off the upset when he snapped Souza’s arm with a nasty armbar at the end of the first round. This is the first time that Souza has ever been submitted in an MMA competition, and it came against a fighter with who many fans may not be familiar. But Muniz is a highly-decorated grappler in his own right, and the 31-year-old Brazilian was able to stop the 41-year-old Souza.

Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC middleweight Ronaldo Souza “in general, is fine” after having his arm broken by Andre Muniz in a nasty submission loss at UFC 262. The 41-year-old Souza was submitted for the very first time in his legendary MMA career when he was caught in an armbar by Muniz in the first round of their fight at UFC 262. Unfortunately for Souza, he was not able to tap in time and his arm broke. Mics picked up the sound of the bone actually breaking and overall it was one of the worst arm breaks we have seen in the UFC since Frank Mir broke Tim Sylvia’s arm all those years ago.

Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC featherweight veteran Edson Barboza reacted after odd his knockout win over Shane Burgos in what was the “Fight of the Night” at UFC 262. Barboza and Burgos went back-and-forth in an absolute war that saw both men sling heavy leather and nasty kicks at each other for as long as the fight lasted. After two competitive rounds, Barboza landed a right hand on Burgos in the third round. It didn’t appear to be a particularly hard shot, but almost immediately Burgos stumbled backwards as his brain shut off and he was knocked out by Barboza’s follow-up punches in the ground. It was a very odd knockout and very concerning for medical officials as Burgos was sent to the hospital following the fight for a CT scan, though apparently, he is feeling better already.

Cole Shelton - May 16, 2021

The UFC was back in front of a full capacity crowd on Saturday night in Houston, Texas for UFC 262. The card saw the vacant lightweight title up for grabs as Charles Oliveira took on Michael Chandler. Tony Ferguson also took on Beneil Dariush in a pivotal co-main event. The event, despite losing some big fights, ended up delivering as Oliveira rallied after being dropped in the first to TKO Chandler in the second to become the new champ. Dariush, meanwhile, used his grappling to dominate Ferguson and win a clear-cut 30-27.

Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021

Fights were happening inside and outside the Octagon at UFC 262 as a number of fans got into a brawl in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. UFC 262 was the first time that fans have been at a UFC event in Texas since last February at UFC 247, and for some of these fans, they felt like they were part of the action themselves. At one point in the night during the Mike Grundy vs. Lando Vannata featherweight bout, there was a fight that broke out in the audience, which the UFC color commentators recognized. Check out footage of the fight between the fans below.

Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021

UFC president Dana White responded to the accusations that he prevented Georges St-Pierre from boxing Oscar De La Hoya in Triller. It was alleged his week that White blocked Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh from signing St-Pierre to fight in a boxing match against de la Hoya for Triller. Though GSP is retired, he is still under UFC contract and White apparently exercised his right to block the fight. Speaking to the media following UFC 262, White went on an epic rant against Triller.

Adam D Martin - May 16, 2021

Fan-favorite knockout artist Derrick Lewis explained why he “hates” UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou during the UFC 262 presser. Lewis is set to take on Ngannou in a rematch later this summer for the UFC heavyweight championship. With former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones not being able to strike a deal with the UFC, Lewis has slipped in and will get the next title shot against the champ Ngannou. Lewis was a guest at the UFC 262 press conference and when reporters asked him why he doesn’t like Ngannou, “The Black Beast” answered in a way only he can.

Chris Taylor - May 16, 2021

Michael Chandler was looking to earn his fourth consecutive knockout and the lightweight title when he squared off with Charles Oliveira at UFC 262. Chandler (22-6 MMA) had entered tonight’s event with a ton of momentum having earned three first round finishes in a row. During that stretch ‘Iron’ had scored stoppage wins over Sidney Outlaw, Benson Henderson and Dan Hooker.

Christopher Taylor - May 16, 2021

Charles Oliveira did not mince words while addressing Conor McGregor following his title-earning TKO victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Oliveira (31-8 MMA) and Chandler (22-6 MMA) squared off for the promotions vacant lightweight title this evening in Houston.

Chris Taylor - May 15, 2021

Charles Oliveira is not closing the door on a return to featherweight after defeating Michael Chandler for the lightweight title at tonight’s UFC 262 event. Oliveira (31-8 MMA) and Chandler (22-6 MMA) squared off for the promotions vacant lightweight title this evening in Houston.

Christopher Taylor - May 15, 2021

Former two-division champion Conor McGregor was clearly watching tonight’s UFC 262 main event between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira. Oliveira (31-8 MMA) and Chandler (22-6 MMA) squared off for the promotions vacant lightweight title this evening in Houston.

Christopher Taylor - May 15, 2021

Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier clearly tuned in to watch Michael Chandler take on Charles Oliveira at tonight’s UFC 262 event. Oliveira (31-8 MMA) and Chandler (22-6 MMA) squared off for the promotions vacant lightweight title this evening in Houston.