MMA News
Neil Magny vs. Anthony Rocco Martin added to UFC 250
Adam Martin - May 20, 2020
An intriguing welterweight matchup between Neil Magny and Anthony Rocco Martin is the latest addition to the UFC 250 pay-per-view event in June. UFC president Dana White is hoping for the promotion’s next PPV card to take place on June 6 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card is set to feature UFC women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes against Felicia Spencer, plus a rumored bantamweight bout between Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen. Magny vs. Martin will likely slot in somewhere on the preliminary card of the evening.
Josh Emmett vs. Shane Burgos among new fights targeted for June UFC events
Adam Martin - May 20, 2020
A featherweight bout between Josh Emmett and Shane Burgos is among the new matchups the UFC is hoping to book for June fight cards. With the UFC schedule ramping back up, the matchmakers have been busy trying to get contracts signed for the promotion’s upcoming events in late May and in June. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday that a number of fights are in the works for the events in June, and Emmett vs. Burgos is arguably the best of the bunch.
Report: Marvin Vettori vs Karl Roberson rescheduled for June 13
Alfredo Zullino - May 20, 2020
He asked for it, and he got it. A middleweight bout between Marvin Vettori and Karl Roberson has been rebooked for next month. The “Italian Dream” was supposed to square off against Karl Roberson on May 13, but the latter had been forced off the fight card due to some weight-cut related issues.
Coach: Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa will be "the greatest middleweight title fight in history"
Cole Shelton - May 20, 2020
Eric Albarracin has high expectations for Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa have been going back-and-forth at one another for months a fight between them seems likely. It would see both men put their undefeated records on the line, in what Albarracin says will be the greatest middleweight title fight in history.
UFC rankings update: Glover Teixeira climbs at light heavyweight
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after the promotion’s recent events in Jacksonville, and there have been some interesting changes. Most notably, former light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira made a climb up the light heavyweight list on the strength of his Wednesday night defeat of Anthony Smith.
May 30 UFC event to go down in Las Vegas, per Dana White
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
The UFC’s planned May 30 card finally has a home. As widely expected, the event will go down at the new UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC President Dana White confirmed the card’s location in a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Stephen Thompson makes prediction for Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns fight
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson believes Tyron Woodley will defeat Gilbert Burns when the pair collide on May 30. Woodley and Burns will meet in the main event of the May 30 card, which still doesn’t have an official location but is expected to go down in Las Vegas or somewhere in Arizona. Woodley, the former welterweight champ, will be looking to be rebound from a title loss to Kamaru Usman, while Burns will be hunting for the biggest win of his career so far.
Mark Hunt trashes UFC over Henry Cejudo situation
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
Mark Hunt has some choice words for the UFC after former two-division champ Henry Cejudo seemingly retired over pay issues. Shortly after he defended the UFC bantamweight title with a TKO defeat of Dominick Cruz, Henry Cejudo shocked viewers by announcing his decision to retire. It quickly became clear that his retirement stemmed from issues surrounding his pay. It’s also widely believed that he’ll return if the right offer is presented.
Following Maycee Barber mauling, Roxanne Modafferi has next UFC fight booked
Adam Martin - May 20, 2020
Following a dominant victory over Maycee Barber at UFC 246, Roxanne Modafferi has been booked for her next fight in the Octagon against Lauren Murphy. Mke Heck of MMAFighting.com reported that Modafferi vs. Murphy will take place at a UFC event scheduled for June 20. According to the report, the UFC hopes to have this event take place at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, but UFC president Dana White admitted this week that the state of Arizona is a realistic possibility if Vegas can’t happen.
Daniel Cormier suggests solution to get Stipe Miocic back to training for rematch
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
Daniel Cormier is eager to close out his career with a tie-breaking trilogy fight with reigning UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Unfortunately for Cormier, Miocic is in no rush when it comes to his next fight. The champ also works as a firefighter, and is busy with his duties as a first-responder during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. His gym is also closed, which means committing to a full fight camp is not currently possible.
UFC on ESPN 8 produces strong viewership ratings
Tom Taylor - May 20, 2020
Last Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 8 event in Jacksonville, Florida delivered strong viewership ratings for the promotion. According to a report from MMA Fighting, which cites data collected by the Nielsen Ratings System, the UFC on ESPN 8 main card averaged 1.198 million viewers and finished second in the valuable 18-49 demographic. It was No. 1 for the male audience in that age grouping.
Jon Jones responds to Francis Ngannou: “You ain’t scaring nobody, I saw your heart"
Harry Kettle - May 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones has hit back at Francis Ngannou as rumors of a fight between the two continue to grow. “The Predator” took another huge step towards a second title shot when he knocked out Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds at UFC 249. Jones, on the other hand, is coming off the back of a controversial victory over Dominick Reyes in Houston.
Jon Jones plays Tweet and delete following latest jab at Francis Ngannou
Natasha Hooper - May 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is playing a Twitter post and delete game as he attempts to bait Francis Ngannou into a fight. Jon Jones’ reign as the 205-pound king has been put into question since his last fight against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Jones won the fight by decision, but many spectators felt “The Devastator” gave the stronger performance.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father placed in a medically-induced coma due to COVID-19
Natasha Hooper - May 20, 2020
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, has been put into a medically induced coma in Moscow. The news was confirmed by the champion’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz through ESPN on Tuesday. Abdelaziz confirmed that Abdulmanap was transported from his home in Dagestan to Moscow by airlift earlier this month. Khabib also recently revealed that his father underwent heart surgery stemming from complications related to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Walt Harris plans to take Alistair Overeem up on his offer to train together following TKO loss
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2020
Walt Harris says he will be taking Alistair Overeem up on his offer to train together following his TKO loss. In the main event of UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Florida, Harris returned to the Octagon to battle Overeem. It was an important fight for the heavyweight division and early on, “The Big Ticket” dropped the 40-year-old and nearly finished him in the first round.
Anthony Smith says he would've fired his corner if they threw in the towel during Glover Teixeira fight
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2020
Anthony Smith says he has told his corner before if they ever throw in the towel in one of his fights they would be fired. In the main event of UFC Jacksonville last Wednesday, many thought Smith’s corner let him down by not stopping the fight against Glover Teixeira. Yet, “Lionheart,” says they were just following his orders of never throwing in the towel.
Edson Barboza says if UFC doesn't give him his win bonus he won't cut back down to 145
Cole Shelton - May 19, 2020
Edson Barboza hopes the UFC and Dana White finally show him some love and respect following his split decision loss to Dan Ige. At UFC on ESPN 8, Barboza dropped down to featherweight to take on 15th ranked Ige. Many had wondered how the Brazilian would fare in his debut and early on he had a ton of success by even dropping Ige in the first.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s greatest threat: Justin Gaethje was right under our nose this whole time
Jordy McElroy - May 19, 2020
Justin Gaethje didn’t need a shtick, funky fighting style or exalted name to beat the odds set by the black suits in Vegas at UFC 249. The blue collar slugger simply bit down on his mouthpiece and went to hell and back with a man that makes weight for fun. An emptied arena that surely would have been rollicking stirred in silence as he stood in the blood-spattered cage the victor, after knocking off previous No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson. UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov’s name had previously been tied to Ferguson, Conor McGregor and even MMA legend Georges St-Pierre.