MMA News
Anthony Smith reacts to Jon Jones vacating the UFC light heavyweight title: “That’s a noble thing to do”
Harry Kettle - August 27, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith has given his thoughts on Jon Jones vacating the Light Heavyweight Championship. Smith, 32, is hoping to get back to winning ways this Saturday when he squares off against rising star Aleksandar Rakic in a huge fight at 205 pounds. “Lionheart” was beaten by vetern Glover Teixeira in the fifth round of their main event in May, and ever since then he’s been itching to get back into the Octagon.
Anderson Silva still interested in a super fight with "the best one in the sport," Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is expected to retire from MMA after his October 31 fight with Uriah Hall, but the Brazilian legend is still interested in a clash with former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. Silva explained his interest in a fight with McGregor during an interview with ESPN this week.
Alex Volkanovski scoffs at Patricio Freire’s challenge to Dana White, ‘Pitbull’ issues scathing response
Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2020
Alex Volkanovski shrugged off Patricio Freire’s fight challenge, leaving “Pitbull” to unload a scathing counterattack on the UFC featherweight champion. The Bellator two-division champion offered an astronomical bet to UFC president Dana White this week, that he could beat both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Alex Volkanovski.
Why the PFL could be the perfect home for Michael Chandler
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020
After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.
Anthony Smith still wants Luke Rockhold fight: "I'd love to beat up someone I don't like"
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020
Anthony Smith is still interested in a fight with Luke Rockhold. Ahead of Rockhold moving up to the light heavyweight division, he trashed Anthony Smith. He claimed he would be able to have success at 205 if someone like Smith did. “Lionheart” did not like those words and since then the two have trashed one another leading many to think a fight would happen.
Manny Pacquiao's coach uninterested in Conor McGregor fight: "Why destroy your legacy for a bum like McGregor"
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020
Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune is not interested in seeing his pupil box Conor McGregor. Ever since Pacquiao signed with Paradigm Sports Management, the same management as McGregor, many wondered if a fight could take place. The Irishman spoke openly about his desire to box again after his bout with Floyd Mayweather and a fight against Pacquiao certainly made sense.
Diego Sanchez admits he's contemplating retirement: "I can see at the end of the tunnel"
Adam Martin - August 26, 2020
UFC welterweight Diego Sanchez admitted that he is contemplating retirement, saying that he can “see at the end of the tunnel.” Sanchez is one of the longest-tenured fighters on the UFC roster, having joined the UFC in 2005 after winning the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Throughout the years, Sanchez has been one of the most active fighters on the entire roster, fighting at weight four weight classes: 185lbs, 170lbs, 155lbs, 145lbs. In 2009, Sanchez fought BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight title and lost the bout via fifth-round doctor stoppage.
Anderson Silva confirms Uriah Hall fight will likely be his last
Adam Martin - August 26, 2020
UFC legend Anderson Silva confirmed that his fight against Uriah Hall on Halloween will likely mark the end of his incredible MMA career. At age 45, Silva is the oldest fighter currently on the UFC roster and so him retiring should be no shock to anyone. UFC president Dana White said this week that Silva’s fight against Hall would be the final fight of his career and Silva has now confirmed that. Speaking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Silva admitted that the Hall fight will likely be the end of his career.
Former UFC fighter Clay Collard says boxing is not a "permanent switch," opens up on PFL contract
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2020
Clay Collard is one of boxing’s biggest stars of 2020. The former UFC featherweight is signed to Top Rank boxing and has gone 5-0 in 2020 including a TKO win last Saturday. At the beginning of the year, he was being brought in to lose against some of Top Rank’s best-undefeated prospects. Yet, Collard won the fights and is now getting pushed by the ESPN boxing promotion.
Fabricio Werdum believes he'll secure first round finish in potential rematch with Fedor Emelianenko
Harry Kettle - August 26, 2020
MMA veteran Fabricio Werdum is confident that he’ll beat Fedor Emelianenko in the first round if they do have a rematch. Even at the age of 43, there’s a whole lot of intrigue surrounding Werdum and what the future may hold for him. The Brazilian sensation is coming off the back of a huge submission victory over Alexander Gustafsson, and while he may be leaving the UFC, that doesn’t mean his future isn’t going to contain some exciting match-ups.
Anthony Smith envisions quick path to light heavyweight title shot
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith believes he’s quite close to another shot at the division’s ultimate prize. Smith, who lost a decision to Jon Jones in a light heavyweight title fight in 2019, is currently riding a TKO loss to Glover Teixeira. However, after Jones vacated the light heavyweight title to move up to heavyweight, the former title challenger sees a clear path back to the championship, despite suffering a setback in his last outing.
Georges St-Pierre: UFC has "not made me an offer yet" for superfight with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2020
We’ve got a small update on a potential superfight between former two-division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and reigning lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. St-Pierre recently joined Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star for an interview, and divulged that, as of yet, he hasn’t received an offer from the UFC with respect to a potential fight with the lightweight champion.
Daniel Cormier "needs to stop" fighting, says coach: "He’s gone down a bit"
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2020
American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez hopes Daniel Cormier, one of his most decorated students, sticks to his retirement. Cormier had been floating his retirement plans for over a year, and made that retirement official after UFC 252, where he came up short by decision against UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
Bryce Mitchell returns on Halloween UFC event, takes on Andre Fili
Adam Martin - August 26, 2020
A featherweight bout between Bryce Mitchell and Andre Fili has been added to the UFC card that is scheduled to take place on Halloween. Mitchell vs. Fili will take place on the undercard of the UFC Fight Night card set for October 31 at a location that has yet-to-be-determined. The event will be headlined by a five-round main event fight between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Uriah Hall. UFC president Dana White has confirmed that this will be Silva’s retirement fight.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN+ 33: Smith vs. Rakic
Adam Martin - August 26, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 11 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 33: Smith vs. Rakic event. In the main event, two of the top-10 light heavyweights in the UFC go at it as Aleksandar Rakic takes on Anthony Smith. Rakic is coming off of a split decision loss to Volkan Oezdemir in his last outing, while Smith is coming off a brutal TKO loss to Glover Teixeira. With Jon Jones recently vacating his title, this is a very important fight in the 205lbs title picture.
Luke Rockhold warns rivals ahead of comeback: "I’m still the best motherf**ker" in the gym
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champ Luke Rockhold believes he still has what it takes to hang with the top fighters in his weight division. Rockhold has not fought since a 2019 knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in the light heavyweight division. After that loss, he gave reason to believe he might end up retiring, but he recently announced his intention to fight again.
UFC boss Dana White responds to critics of Republican National Convention appearance
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2020
UFC President Dana White has responded to the critics of his scheduled appearance at the Republican National Convention this week. White is slated speak in favor of US President Donald Trump on Thursday, which is the final night of the convention. While the UFC boss’s support of Trump is certainly no secret, his dabbling in the world of politics has still generated plenty of backlash.
Former UFC fighter "Mayhem" Miller charged for residential burglary and car theft in California
Harry Kettle - August 26, 2020
Controversial former MMA fighter Jason “Mayhem” Miller has been charged for residential burglary and car theft in Irvine, California. Miller, 39, has had his fair share of run-ins with the law throughout the course of his life, and he even served jail time — but following an interview with Ariel Helwani a few months back, many fans were hoping that he’d been able to turn his life around.