MMA News
Dominick Reyes explains why Jan Blachowicz is a tougher matchup than Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Dominick Reyes knows Jan Blachowicz will not be an easy out. In the co-main event of UFC 253 on September 26, Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz will be fighting for the vacant light heavyweight title. On Monday, Jon Jones announced on Twitter he would be vacating the belt and the UFC swiftly promoted the Reyes vs Blachowicz matchup to be for the vacant title.
Marlon Vera believes he made Sean O'Malley "quit" at UFC 252, wants Jimmie Rivera next
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Marlon Vera had no doubt in his mind he would be the first person to beat Sean O’Malley. In the co-main event of UFC 252, O’Malley was looking to remain undefeated against Vera. It was an intriguing matchup with many pundits thinking it would be “Sugar” getting his hand raised.
Ovince Saint Preux on Alonzo Menifield fight: "I can break him in the first round"
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Ovince Saint Preux had no hesitation when offered a bout with Alonzo Menifield on short notice. Originally, Saint Preux was expected to battle Shamil Gamzatov this Saturday night but his opponent withdrew. On just a week and a half notice, Menifield took the fight. For “OSP,” he says he just wanted to fight and the opponent didn’t matter.
John Salter "expecting a three-round battle" against Andrew Kapel, believes a win earns him a title shot
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
John Salter thought he had done enough to earn a title shot following his last fight. With the Bellator middleweight title vacant and Gegard Mousasi not being able to get into the United States, he thought the timing was perfect for him to take on Douglas Lima. The 35-year-old is on a two-fight winning streak. He is also 7-1 in Bellator with his lone loss coming to Rafael Lovato Jr.
Cat Zingano gets opponent for Bellator debut
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano has an opponent for her long-awaited debut in the Bellator MMA cage. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Zingano will make her debut with the promotion on September 11, when she’ll take on Gabby Holloway.
UFC rankings update: Marlon Vera returns to Top 15, Daniel Cormier falls
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
The official UFC rankings have been updated after UFC 252, and as expected, there have been some interesting changes. Most notably, Ecuador’s Marlon Vera has returned to the bantamweight top 15 after scoring an upset win over Sean O’Malley—a first-round TKO—in the card’s co-main event.
Carlos Condit booked for comeback fight against former TUF winner
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
Former UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit will make his return to the Octagon against former TUF winner Court McGee. News of the fight was confirmed by MMAjunkie.com after Condit revealed on a recent podcast the matchup against McGee was in the works. The fight will take place on the UFC’s October 3 card. That is a Fight Night event that is set to be headlined by former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm against Irene Aldana. The location of the event has not yet been revealed, but it could take place on Fight Island.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN 15: Munhoz vs. Edgar
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for the 11 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 15: Munhoz vs. Edgar event. In the main event, No. 5 ranked bantamweight Pedro Munhoz will lock horns with former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. The bout will mark Edgar’s 135lbs debut after a long career at 155lbs and 145lbs, while Munhoz will be looking to get back in the win column after dropping a decision to Aljamain Sterling in his last fight.
Jon Jones says light heavyweight division is "cleared," believes heavyweight is at "all-time best"
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Jon Jones believes he’s cleared out the light heavyweight division, and that he’s migrating to heavyweight at a time when that division’s never been better. Jones, the long-time UFC light heavyweight champion, vacated his throne earlier this week with ambitions to move up to the heavyweight division.
Dana White: UFC will have to cut fighters as more Contender Series contracts are offered
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
UFC President Dana White says the promotion will have to part ways with some of its current fighters as it continues to sign new talent through Contender Series. White has signed a host of new fighters on Contender Series over the last few weeks. That trend continued last night, when the UFC boss offered contracts to Josh Parisian, Cheyanne Buys, and brother duo Orion and Louis Cosce.
Dana White confirms Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz will be for vacant UFC light heavyweight title
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
UFC president Dana White confirmed that Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz will compete for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title. Reyes vs. Blachowicz was announced on Monday and later in the day Jon Jones announced that he has vacated his belt on Twitter. Speaking to reporters following Tuesday’s edition of the Contender Series, White confirmed that Jones has vacated the title, and the fight between Reyes and Blachowicz at UFC 253 will crown a new champion at 205lbs.
Sean O'Malley coach responds to criticism from Ben Askren
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Tim Welch, one of the coaches behind Sean O’Malley, has responded to some recent comments from former Bellator and ONE Champ Ben Askren. O’Malley last fought in the co-main event of UFC 252 last weekend, succumbing to a volley of punches from Marlon Vera after seemingly injuring his leg. After the fight was stopped, he was stretchered out of the Octagon.
Anderson Silva set to return on October 31 for middleweight bout with Uriah Hall
Natasha Hooper - August 19, 2020
Anderson Silva will return to the Octagon on October 31 for a middleweight clash against Uriah Hall in the main event. The middleweight legend has endured a peppered record of wins and losses in recent years. He is currently riding a record of two consecutive losses after losing to Jared Cannonier by TKO in the first round of their UFC 237 clash. Prior to that, he lost by unanimous decision to the current middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya in 2017. His last victory took place in 2017 when he faced Derek Brunson. The pair went three rounds, and Brunson was convinced he “outclassed” Silva, but the judges ultimately sided with the middleweight legend and served him the victory.
Ben Askren offers tough assessment of Sean O'Malley's UFC 252 loss: "He needs to grow up"
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion has offered a tough assessment of Sean O’Malley’s UFC 252 loss to Marlon Vera. O’Malley met Vera in the co-main event of last Saturday’s UFC 252 card. Heading into the matchup, O’Malley had never been beaten, and was regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in the UFC. In the end, however, he was stopped by a torrent of Vera punches in the first round after seemingly injuring his leg.
Diego Sanchez set to return at UFC 253 for a welterweight bout with Jake Mathews
Harry Kettle - August 19, 2020
UFC veteran and fan favorite Diego Sanchez is set to return to action at UFC 253 to take on Jake Matthews. Sanchez, who made his official debut for the promotion back in 2005, will make his 32nd walk to the Octagon as the eccentric New Mexico native tries to make it four wins in his last five fights.
Israel Adesanya on Jon Jones move to heavyweight: “Fight Francis Ngannou and watch him break you”
Natasha Hooper - August 19, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has weighed in on Jon Jones’ plan to move up to the heavyweight division. Jon Jones has stepped away from his light heavyweight crown after a dispute with the UFC regarding a possible Francis Ngannou super fight. He accused UFC president Dana White of lying about contract negotiations and not paying him what he deserves.
Derrick Lewis set to headline November 28 UFC event against fellow heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2020
Derrick Lewis is looking to become the number one contender at heavyweight and he will get one step closer to that goal on November 28. For quite some time now, Curtis Blaydes has been calling out Derrick Lewis for a fight. He has even accused “The Black Beast” and the UFC of avoiding the matchup. Yet, that all changes now as according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Lewis and Blaydes will headline a November 28 event.
Alonzo Menifield planning for "three-round war" in co-main event against Ovince Saint Preux
Cole Shelton - August 18, 2020
Alonzo Menifield was ecstatic when he got the call to step up on short notice to take on Ovince Saint Preux. Ever since Menifield lost his first professional fight to Devin Clark at UFC 250, the Fortis MMA product wanted to make a quick turnaround to get the bad taste out of his mouth. So, when he was offered a co-main event spot against a perennial contender, Ovince Saint Preux, he knew he couldn’t turn it down.