MMA News
Conor McGregor declares Fight Island "my island"
Tom Taylor - January 19, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has arrived on Fight Island—Yas Island in Abu Dhabi—and he’s already claiming ownership of it. McGregor is slated to take on Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 257 this Saturday on the Island. While most fighters on the card flew to Abu Dhabi directly, or through Las Vegas, McGregor first made a pitstop in Dubai, before eventually moving on to the scene of the action.
Dan Hooker weighs in on Khabib Nurmagomedov's future: "As far as I’m concerned, the guy says he’s retired"
Tom Taylor - January 19, 2021
Dan Hooker, who is days out from a UFC 257 fight with Michael Chandler, is taking Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement announcement at face value. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champion, retired after defending his belt with a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje in October. Despite that announcement, UFC President Dana White has been adamant that he’ll attempt to convince the champ to fight one more time in an effort to push his record to 30-0.
Coach believes Dustin Poirier needs to expose Conor McGregor’s “weakness” at UFC 257
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2021
American Top Team’s Mike Brown wants to see Dustin Poirier exploit Conor McGregor’s conditioning “weakness” at UFC 257 this weekend. Brown, who is Poirier’s head coach at ATT, will be hoping to guide “The Diamond” to victory more than six years after he was brutally defeated by McGregor at UFC 178 in Las Vegas.
UFC Fight Island 8 Weigh-In Results: Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny both make weight
Harry Kettle - January 19, 2021
Main event stars Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny have both made weight for their UFC Fight Island 8 showdown on Wednesday night. Both men are currently riding three-fight win streaks in the welterweight division with the belief being that a win here for either could take them to within one or two more victories of a shot at the Welterweight Championship.
Meng Bo: 'I can definitely defeat Weili Zhang again'
Drake Riggs - January 18, 2021
Weili Zhang only has one loss on her MMA record. And that belongs to the UFC champ’s fellow Chinese standout, ONE Championship’s Meng Bo. On Nov. 9, 2013, Bo and Zhang met on the Chinese regional scene for each of their first clashes in MMA. However, despite their professional records both reading that bout as their first career contests, Bo has since revealed that the fight was actually an amateur fight with only two rounds — as can be seen below.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega betting odds released
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming UFC featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. The UFC recently announced that Volkanovski and Ortega will fight at UFC 260 on March 27. The main event for the card features UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou. With Volkanovski vs. Ortega now official for that event, the oddsmakers were quick to release the opening betting odds. Take a look at the odds for Volkanovski vs. Ortega below (via BestFightOdds).
Coach: Joanna Jedrzejczyk will need 'something significant to get her off the couch'
Drake Riggs - January 18, 2021
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has fought in the highest profiled contests that she possibly could have in her career. Now, that could be about all that’s left for her. In March 2020, Jedrzejczyk acted as half of one of the greatest fights of all-time. It was her 10th career UFC title bout and the third she’d lost in just as many attempts. 2-4 in her last six overall, it’s left Jedrzejczyk with seemingly limited options — not only by popular belief but her own accord as well.
Jerome Rivera plans to take Francisco Figueiredo's "soul" and put the champ on notice
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
Jerome Rivera knows he can send a direct message to Deiveson Figueiredo on Wednesday. At UFC Fight Island 8, Rivera is set to welcome Deiveson Figueiredo’s brother in Francisco to the Octagon. It is a very intriguing matchup and when Rivera got the fight offer, it was an immediate yes.
Dana White: Jon Jones gets winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
UFC president Dana White says Jon Jones will get the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Jones vacated the UFC light heavyweight title last summer, announcing a move up to heavyweight for 2021 after a decade of dominance at 205lbs. Some thought he might even skip by Ngannou in the title shot queue, but the UFC is rightfully giving Ngannou the next crack at the belt. It was revealed over the weekend that the UFC is targeting Miocic and Ngannou to hold their rematch at UFC 260 on March 27, and Jones may face the winner of that bout.
What's next for Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar after UFC Fight Island 7?
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
In the main event of UFC Fight Island 7, Max Holloway was looking to snap his two-fight losing skid as he took on rising contender, Calvin Kattar. Holloway was looking to prove he is the best featherweight alive, while Kattar was hoping to become the next title contender. Ultimately, it was Holloway who put on a dominant performance and set several records en route to a lopsided decision win.
Michael Chandler explains why Dan Hooker is a tougher matchup than McGregor, Poirier, and Gaethje
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
Michael Chandler believes Dan Hooker is one of the tougher matchups for him in the UFC. In the co-main event of UFC 257, Chandler is set to make his UFC debut against Hooker in a very intriguing bout. It is a top-10 opponent for the former Bellator champ and a tough test for him. Although Hooker is not ranked in the top-three, Chandler believes the Kiwi is a tougher challenger than Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.
Conor McGregor says rematch against Dustin Poirier will be “easy," but not as easy as running things back with Khabib
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
Conor McGregor is set for his second-ever rematch when he battles Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor and Poirier met in 2014 with the Irishman winning by first-round knockout. Although many believe this fight will be closer, McGregor doesn’t agree. He is expecting the rematch to be easy, but not as easy as a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov would be.
Photo | Francis Ngannou looking monstrous as Stipe Miocic training camp begins
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Top contender Francis Ngannou is already jacked ahead of his upcoming rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Ngannou gets his long-awaited rematch with Miocic at UFC 260, which is set to take place on March 27. Since losing a unanimous decision to Miocic at UFC 220 in January 2018, Ngannou has won four straight fights by knockout to earn another crack at the title. As for Miocic, he’s coming off of back-to-back wins over Daniel Cormier in their trilogy. It stands to figure that the winner of Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 will be in line to get a super fight with Jon Jones.
UFC on ESPN 20: Chiesa vs. Magny full betting odds
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Check out the full betting odds for this Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 20 event headlined by welterweight contenders Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. In the main event, Chiesa and Magny will duke it out for five rounds or less in a fight that could see the winner get a significant step up in the UFC welterweight division. Chiesa and Magny are both riding three-fight win streaks and they are ranked right next to each other at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. This is the perfect matchup between two well-rounded welterweights on the rise, and the winner should get a top-five opponent.
Calvin Kattar issues classy statement after lopsided loss to Max Holloway
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Calvin Kattar has issued a classy post-fight statement after a tough loss to former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. Kattar and Holloway collided in the main event of the UFC on ABC 1 card last Saturday on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
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.
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.