MMA News
Jessica Eye: 'Moving to Las Vegas probably the best thing to happen to my life'
Mike Pendleton - April 6, 2020
Looking to improve both her personal and professional life, UFC flyweight Jessica Eye packed up and moved to Las Vegas in February of 2019. Shortly following that move she would find herself fighting for the UFC flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko. Although her bid for championship gold didn’t go as planned, Eye was just getting started with her new team at Xtreme Couture. In an interview with BJPENN.com, Eye discussed her move to Xtreme Couture and Las Vegas, after spending years with StrongStyle gym in Cleveland, Ohio, home of reigning heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. With the decision to move to Xtreme Couture and Las Vegas, Eye feels she’s done what is best for her in personal life as well as her fighting career.
As fighters struggle to train safely, coach Ray Longo wants UFC to cancel cards
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
Renowned MMA coach Ray Longo is hoping that UFC President Dana White will bite the bullet and cancel a few of the promotion’s upcoming shows amid the coronavirus pandemic. There are several arguments for the UFC canceling its upcoming events. One of the issues Longo sees is that, with almost all gyms closed, fighters are not able to make adequate preparations for their fights — if those fights even end up happening.
The Korean Zombie exposes multiple methods of cheating the scale at weigh-ins
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
As a decorated UFC and WEC veteran, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung has been around the block. During his time in the game, he’s even come across a few methods of cheating the scale at weigh-ins for fights. The Korean Zombie exposed those methods in a recent video posted to his YouTube channel in hopes that it will help level the playing field in the sport.
Darren Till calls for UFC and Reebok to increase fighter pay
Adam Martin - April 6, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till believes MMA fighters are underpaid and suggests that the UFC and Reebok should increase fighter pay. Till recently did a Q&A session on his YouTube and spoke about the topic of fighter pay. Here’s what he said (via MMAFighting.com).
Anthony Smith expects Jon Jones' issues outside the cage to continue
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
Anthony Smith believes his former opponent, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, will continue to find trouble outside the cage until he decides to make some real changes. Smith shared his take on Jones’ ongoing personal issues, which most recently manifested in the form of a DWI arrest, during a recent interview with MMA Fighting.
Mike Winkeljohn believes UFC will start having longer cards to make up for postponed events
Cole Shelton - April 6, 2020
Mike Winkeljohn believes we may be seeing 20-plus fights on a UFC event to make up for the postponed events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the coronavirus shutting down the sports world, the UFC was forced to postpone three events and the status of the upcoming cards is unknown. But, Dana White has been adamant that all fighters will get three fights in.
ONE Championship postpones closed-door events due to coronavirus pandemic
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
ONE Championship has been forced to postpone two April events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. These ONE Championship events were most recently scheduled to occur behind closed doors in Singapore, but were originally targeted for other territories in Asia. Unfortunately, the promotion has been forced to delay them outright, citing new restrictions from the Singaporean government, and increasing travel restrictions, which of course makes it difficult to move fighters around.
Erick Silva and his family were infected by coronavirus
Adam Martin - April 6, 2020
Bellator welterweight Erick Silva and his family were infected with the coronavirus but they are all recovering well now and in quarantine. Combate reported that the 35-year-old Silva, his 23-year-old wife Isabela, his five-month-old son Carlos and his 10-year-old son Kalleu were all infected with the coronavirus. In addition, Silva’s 26-year-old sister-in-law Carol and her in-laws, 58-year-old Arilton and 52-year-old Jo, were also infected with the coronavirus. Thankfully, they discovered they had it relatively early and all are now in quarantine and expected to make full recovery.
Belarus added to the list of replacement locations for future UFC events
Harry Kettle - April 6, 2020
Belarus has emerged as a potential plan B for the UFC when it comes to hosting future events for the promotion. The last few weeks haven’t been great for the UFC, with the promotion being forced to postpone or outright cancel a string of events as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Report | UFC is "very close" to finding location for UFC 249 and 'multiple' other events
Tom Taylor - April 6, 2020
The UFC is reportedly very close to locking down a location for UFC 249. On Monday morning ESPN reported that the promotion is closing in on a potential location for the event. ESPN’s report didn’t reveal that location, but pointed to the West Coast of the United States, and specified that “tribal land” — which is outside the jurisdiction of state athletic commissions — is a likely possibility.
Santiago Ponzinibbio is willing to fight Tyron Woodley with one arm at UFC 249
Natasha Hooper - April 6, 2020
Santiago Ponzinibbio is ready to step up to plate and fight Tyron Woodley last minute at UFC 249. The upcoming UFC 249 event on April 18 is clouded with uncertainty. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Khabib Nurmagomedov is out of his eagerly anticipated Tony Ferguson matchup in the main event. The final location and rest of the card are also not confirmed.
WWE WrestleMania 36: Highlights, Results & Recap
Harry Kettle - April 6, 2020
WWE WrestleMania 36 is in the books after two nights of intense action at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. For the first time ever, WWE split WrestleMania into two nights with nine scheduled bouts on each card. While the atmosphere wasn’t the same as a result of the events being behind closed doors, we still saw some big moments in what could prove to be one of the last shows WWE puts on for quite some time.
Dana White confirms Khabib is out of UFC 249, full fight card will be announced tomorrow
Chris Taylor - April 5, 2020
Dana White took to Twitter this afternoon where he confirmed that Khabib Nurmagomedov is out of UFC 249, this while adding that the full fight card will be announced tomorrow. UFC 249 was originally slated to take place on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York. The event was expected to be headlined by a highly anticipated lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.
TJ Dillashaw claims the UFC will give him a title shot upon return from USADA suspension
Adam Martin - April 5, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw claims the promotion told him he will get a title shot when he returns from his USADA suspension next year. Dillashaw was a dominant champion at 135lbs before dropping down to 125lbs and getting knocked out by Henry Cejudo at UFC on ESPN+ 1. Dillashaw still held the bantamweight belt at that point before it came out he had failed his USADA drug test for performance-enhancing drugs and had his title vacated. He is currently suspended until January 2021.
Dominick Reyes says UFC was working on Jon Jones rematch before coronavirus pandemic
Adam Martin - April 5, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes says the promotion was working on a rematch against champion Jon Jones prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Reyes and Jones fought to a five-round decision at UFC 247 in early February, with the champion Jones retaining his title by a controversial unanimous decision. Many fans, media, fighters, and even UFC president Dana White believed that Reyes did enough to win the title that night, but the judges disagreed and Jones kept his belt.
Dustin Poirier predicts future Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje fight
Adam D Martin - April 5, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier gave his prediction on what would happen in a future fight between Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje. Poirier has fought both McGregor and Gaethje in the past, so if anyone knows this potential matchup well it’s him. Poirier was knocked out by McGregor back in 2014 when he fought at featherweight but defeated Gaethje by knockout in 2018 after moving up to lightweight. With so much time spent in the cage with both men, Poirier should know exactly how a fight between his two former fighters would go.
Daniel Cormier praises first responder Stipe Miocic: "His mind is in the right place"
Adam D Martin - April 5, 2020
UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier praised his rival, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, for his role as a first responder during the coronavirus crisis. Cormier and Miocic have fought each other each of the past two summers, with the pair splitting a pair of memorable bouts with one knockout win apiece. DC won the first fight at UFC 226 when he knocked Miocic out in shocking fashion only to see the former champ get his belt back with a superb comeback knockout win at UFC 241. The two are now expected to have a trilogy fight whenever the UFC schedule resumes later this year.
Dominick Cruz believes UFC 249 could be the most-viewed card in MMA history
Adam D Martin - April 5, 2020
UFC bantamweight and color commentator Dominick Cruz believes UFC 249 could be the most-viewed card in MMA history with few options for entertainment at the moment. There are no professional sports leagues currently being aired on television, or even being competed in, around the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. UFC president Dana White continues to say the show must go on in regards to UFC 249, which is set for April 18 at a location that’s still TBD. While many have criticized White for trying to go ahead with the event, it appears Cruz is on the same wavelength as his boss.