MMA News
UFC on ABC 1 medical suspension: Calvin Kattar facing long absence
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
The post-fight medical suspensions for last Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 card have been released, and as expected, several fighters are facing long breaks, including Calvin Kattar. Kattar lost a decision to former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in the UFC on ABC 1 main event, absorbing north of 400 significant strikes in the process. Unsurprisingly, those figures translated into some significant physical damage, which has him facing a six-month suspension unless he’s cleared earlier by a doctor.
Conor McGregor shares thoughts on Logan and Jake Paul boxing: "I'm not so against it"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has shared his thoughts on the boxing endeavours of YouTube stars Logan and Jake Paul. Jake and Logan have both competed several times in boxing, and all of their fights have been veritable blockbusters in terms of viewership and revenue. Jake most recently picked up a knockout win over former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard, while Logan is gearing up for an exhibition fight with boxing legend and former McGregor foe Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather "knows he would lose" McGregor, Pacquiao rematches, says manager
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Audie Attar, the manager behind Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao, believes Floyd Mayweather would lose to both men if he fought them in 2020. Mayweather holds wins over both Pacquiao and McGregor. He fought Pacquiao in 2015, winning a decision in a fight that was widely panned for its lack of action. He then fought McGregor in 2017, in the UFC star’s boxing debut, and picked up a 10th-round TKO win.
Shinya Aoki has singular goal ahead of ONE Championship return: "Fight as long as I can"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Shinya Aoki is no longer motivated by money or world titles. The Japanese MMA legend strives only to continue doing what he loves as long as possible. Aoki, one of the most lethal submissions in MMA history, is set to return to action at ONE: Unbreakable next Friday in Singapore, where he’ll welcome former LFA welterweight champion James Nakashima to the lightweight division.
Conor McGregor admits retirement was "out of frustration"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor admits his 2020 retirement announcement was partly out of frustration. McGregor returned to the Octagon in January, 2020, when he picked up a blistering, 40-second TKO victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. In the lead-up to that fight, McGregor teased a busy 2020, making no secret of his desire to fight multiple times before the year ended.
Carlos Condit discusses what’s next after fighting out his contract: “I’ve grown up under Zuffa, WEC, UFC, but we’ll see”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2021
UFC legend Carlos Condit has given his brief thoughts on what could be next for him after fighting out his contract with the promotion. Condit secured consecutive wins inside the Octagon for the first time since back in 2012 when he defeated Matt Brown via unanimous decision over the weekend, adding to his win over Court McGee in October 2020.
Max Holloway rewrote the UFC record books in his masterful win over Calvin Kattar
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2021
UFC featherweight Max Holloway made history in a multitude of ways courtesy of his magnificent win over Calvin Kattar this past weekend. In more ways than one, “Blessed” really did set a whole new standard for the division with one of the most dominant wins in divisional history on Fight Island. Now, it seems almost inevitable that he’ll fight the winner of the upcoming Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega bout for the UFC Featherweight Championship.
Mike Perry sends a "thank you" to all the fans who helped him "run miles, and spar gladiators daily in practice"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC welterweight standout Mike Perry (14-7 MMA) has once again taken to social media with some harsh words for fight fans. ‘Platinum’ has gone just 1-3 over his past four Octagon appearances, his latest effort resulting in a unanimous decision loss to Tim Means at UFC 255.
Dana White reacts after Tom Brady leads Bucs past the Saints: "Now I don’t have to listen to DC's BIG MOUTH TALKIN SH*T anymore"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC President Dana White is a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots, in particular their former quarterback Tom Brady. Brady joined Tampa Bay this offseason in hopes of leading the Bucs to their first playoff win since 2003, when the squad last won the Super Bowl.
Coach reveals injuries sustained by Calvin Kattar in lopsided loss to Max Holloway at UFC Fight Island 7
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Calvin Kattar entered his UFC Fight Island 7 event-headlining matchup with Max Holloway hoping to prove that he had the best boxing in MMA. Unfortunately for ‘The Boston Finisher’, that proved to be far from the case, as he was simply outclassed by the former featherweight kingpin in yesterday’s fight.
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes during UFC 257 press conference with Conor McGregor: "You don’t want to get 'Who the fook is that guy’d'"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes for the upcoming UFC 257 press conference which includes brash former ‘champ champ’ Conor McGregor. The perennial lightweight contender, Hooker (20-9 MMA), is set to square off with former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in next weekend’s co-headliner.
Joe Rogan blown away by "superman" Max Holloway, "complete savage" Calvin Kattar
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC analyst Joe Rogan says he was blown away by Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar’s performances in the main event of UFC on ABC 1. Rogan wasn’t on Fight Island to commentate the UFC’s latest trip to Abu Dhabi, but he’s still watching the events at home. The first of the three Fight Island cards featured Holloway and Kattar in a featherweight main event that headlined UFC on ABC 1. The fight turned out to be a complete beatdown for five rounds as Holloway put on an unworldly performance, setting several records along the way, while Kattar showed that he truly has an iron chin.
Alessio Di Chirico thanks Dana White for performance bonus following initial snub
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC middleweight Alessio Di Chirico thanked UFC president Dana White for his “Performance of the Night” bonus after initially snubbing him. Di Chirico picked up a huge upset win when he finished rising star Joaquin Buckley via first-round KO on the UFC on ABC 1 main card. The Italian had lost three straight fights coming into the Buckley matchup and many fans and media believed this was a set-up fight designed for Buckley to continue building his star power. Unfortunately for Buckley, he was on the wrong end of a highlight-reel knockout when Di Chirico kicked him in the face with his shin.
Diego Sanchez issues warning about brain trauma in MMA: "My soul has been raped many times in this business"
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC legend Diego Sanchez issued a warning about brain trauma in MMA, suggesting that his “soul has been raped many times in this business.” One of the most durable fighters in UFC history, Sanchez has been outspoken about the damage that he’s endured during his 15-plus years fighting in the Octagon. The 39-year-old American recently said his next fight will be his last, citing concerns with brain trauma among the reasons why he is retiring.
Conor McGregor says "very high probability" of boxing Manny Pacquiao in 2021
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor believes there is a “very high probability” of the Irishman boxing against the legend Manny Pacquiao in 2021. McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time in a year next weekend at UFC 257 when he takes on rival Dustin Poirier in the main event of the evening. With a win over Poirier, it’s expected that McGregor will call out UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for a rematch. But while his focus is on MMA at the moment, McGregor can’t help but look around at other opportunities for him in the world of combat sports, namely in the boxing ring.
UFC pioneer Paul Varelans dies after battle with COVID-19
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC pioneer Paul Varelans has passed away at the age of 51 after losing a battle with COVID-19, succumbing to complications from the virus. Varelans had been battling COVID-19 for over a month and was placed on a ventilator in an effort to save his life. He was later he was put into a medical coma. Unfortunately for “The Polar Bear” the virus was too much to handle, and he eventually lost his battle with the coronavirus, passing away at the age of 51 on Saturday. The news of his passing was confirmed by MMAJunkie.com.
Conor McGregor: I am still the UFC lightweight champion
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor says that he believes he is still the lightweight champion ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 257. Back at UFC 229 in October 2018, McGregor met Khabib Nurmagomedov in an attempt to win back the UFC lightweight title that was stripped of the Irishman due to inactivity. Nurmagomedov dominated the fight, knocking McGregor down on the feet and then thrashing him on the ground before finally locking in the fight-ending neck crank in the fourth round. After the fight was over, there was then the infamous brawl between Team Khabib and Team McGregor.
UFC on ABC 1 bonus report: Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar win 50k for "Fight of the Night"
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC featherweights Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar each won $50,000 in bonuses for their “Fight of the Night” at UFC on ABC 1. Holloway and Kattar put on an incredible showing in the main event as the two went five full rounds in an absolute slugfest to kick off the 2021 UFC calendar. Holloway took it to Kattar during the 25 minutes they spent in the cage with one another, landing over 400 significant strikes in a record-setting perfrmance. Although Kattar suffered one of the most lopsided losses in UFC history on paper, he was durable enough to make it an exciting fight for fans.