MMA News

Adam Martin - June 26, 2020

UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes says there are three reasons UFC president Dana White doesn’t like him, and has pushed for UFC fighters to unionize. Blaydes was heavily criticized by White after winning a unanimous decision over Alexander Volkov at UFC on ESPN 11. Although Blaydes got his hand raised, the fight was mostly a wrestling match with Blaydes taking his opponent to the mat, which led to some fans calling it a boring fight and White wasn’t impressed. Not only that, but Blaydes was vocal about fighter pay issues during fight week, and White wasn’t a fan of some of his comments, going so far as to say that Blaydes “looked stupid.”

Adam Martin - June 26, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has been named as the recipient of the first-ever Forrest Griffin Community Award presented by Toyo Tires. The UFC made the announcement on Friday, the day before Poirier fights Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12. Check out the announcement via Twitter.

Adam Martin - June 26, 2020

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan confirmed that UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Rogan made the announcement on a recent edition of his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Check out what he said below.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020

UFC President Dana White has previewed some of the under-the-radar fights on the UFC on ESPN 12 card, which goes down on Saturday night. UFC on ESPN 12 will be headlined by a clash of lightweight contenders, as the No. 3 ranked Dustin Poirier looks to rebound from a failed title bid against Khabib Nurmagomedov by defeating streaking Kiwi contender Dan Hooker. It will be co-headlined by a fun welterweight scrap between Mickey Gall and “Platinum” Mike Perry.

Adam Martin - June 26, 2020

UFC heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier is training at a home gym, and not AKA (American Kickboxing Academy), for his trilogy fight against Stipe Miocic. On August 15, Cormier will make the final walk to the Octagon of his future UFC Hall of Fame career when he meets his rival Miocic for the third and final time at UFC 252 at the UC Apex in Las Vegas. Cormier and Miocic have fought against each other the last two summers, with Cormier knocking Miocic out at UFC 226 in July 2018 to win the belt, and then Miocic finishing Cormier at UFC 241 in August 2019 to take back his title.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020

On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens for the fourth week in a row with the exciting UFC on ESPN 12 card. UFC on ESPN 12 will be headlined by a clash of lightweight contenders, as the No. 3 ranked Dustin Poirier looks to rebound from a failed title bid against Khabib Nurmagomedov by defeating streaking Kiwi contender Dan Hooker.

Natasha Hooper - June 26, 2020

A positive COVID-19 test has caused a last-minute change to the UFC on ESPN 12 lineup. Ramiz Brahimaj has been forced to withdraw from his promotional debut on this weekend’s fight card after his cornerman tested positive for COVID-19. The welterweight (8-2) has been fighting for LFA, and was ready to make his transition to the UFC against Takashi Sato at UFC on ESPN 12 on Saturday night. However, on Thursday evening, it was announced that Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the card due to the risk of infection.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020

After a brief hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, ONE Championship has announced that it will return to our screens with an event in Bangkok, Thailand on July 31. ONE recently promoted a pair of ONE Hero Series of events in Shanghai, China, but the bouts did not air outside the country. This Bangkok event will be broadcast globally.

Tom Taylor - June 26, 2020

Jon Jones says his recent DWI arrest, which occurred in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico in March, has had some very positive affects on his life. Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion, is currently involved in a heated contract dispute with the UFC, and has even floated the idea of taking his services to another fight promotion.

Natasha Hooper - June 26, 2020

Shane Burgos has been added to the list of UFC fighters who have called out the promotion’s questionable ranking system. The UFC’s ranking board has received wide criticism over the way it ranks fighters. Last year, a Reddit user discovered the flawed methods that the organization implements to rank its fighters. He posted an in-depth rundown of all 14 panellists who determine the final rankings, and revealed that a third are not even active MMA media members. The UFC have been criticized for ranking fighters based on their media presence, and personality, not just their fighting record. Jon Jones, Edson Barboza and Leon Edwards have all called out the current system and its shortcoming of late.

Christopher Taylor - June 25, 2020

Veteran mixed martial arts referee John McCarthy claims Jon Jones would have lost his world title at UFC 165 if it were not for him. Jones (26-1 MMA) squared off with Alexander Gustafsson for the first time at the September 2013 pay-per-view event in Toronto, which resulted in arguably the greatest light heavyweight contest in mixed martial arts history.

Chris Taylor - June 25, 2020

Former UFC champion Bas Rutten has followed in the footsteps of Dana White by revealing his selections for the current Mount Rushmore of MMA. Last week the UFC President surprised many fight fans with his four picks for the current Mount Rushmore of MMA.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020

When Mike Perry fights Mickey Gall in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 12 card, he will do so with his girlfriend as the only person in his corner. Perry has ditched training at a gym and with coaches and instead will have his new girlfriend in his corner. For the fan-favorite welterweight, he says his girlfriend is enjoying fight week and getting to be the lone cornerman.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020

Youssef Zalal is looking to go 2-0 inside the UFC Octagon when he battles Jordan Griffin this Saturday night at UFC on ESPN 12. Zalal made his UFC debut on short notice against Austin Lingo where he scored a decision win. Now, his second UFC appearance will also be happening on short notice, which for the Morrocan, says is normal.

Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones believes fighters deserve to be paid more, and he’s willing to risk precious years of his own career to prove it. Jones, 32, has spent the last few weeks butting heads with UFC brass over the amount he’s paid to fight.

Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal says he’s interested in a potential fight with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Masvidal discussed the possibility of a fight with Nurmagomedov during a Q&A on Instagram Live this week. He praised the lightweight champion, and conceded that he’d be willing to fight him in the 155-pound lightweight division, so long as the UFC makes the move worth his while.

Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020

Darren Till has squashed his ongoing beef with Mike Perry and wished “Platinum” well in his imminent fight with Mickey Gall. Till and Perry have had a complicated relationship over the years. The pair began as rivals, then became friends and even one-time sparring partners, then regressed into arch enemies.

Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020

Gilbert Burns feels Jorge Masvidal is employing the wrong strategy as he seeks to improve the pay he receives from the UFC. Masvidal was expected to receive a shot at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but was ultimately sidelined after he entered into a heated contract dispute with the UFC. The fan favorite welterweight made no secret of his gripes about his pay, frequently lashing out at the UFC on social media, and even asked the promotion to release him if they’re not willing to pay him more.