MMA News
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.
Corey Anderson says he signed big-money contract with Bellator: "I make more than I would have in the UFC"
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
Newly-signed Bellator light heavyweight Corey Anderson says he will make more money in Bellator than what he would have made in the UFC. A former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, the news that Anderson had been released by the UFC and signed with Bellator a few weeks ago took many by surprise. Despite a knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in his last fight, Anderson was still the No. 4 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC. In November 2019, he picked up a POTN bonus for knocking out Johnny Walker. His release from the UFC was a very big surprise.
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.
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.
Photo | Anderson Silva looking fit ahead of comeback fight Uriah Hall
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva looks to be in tremendous shape ahead of his October 31 showdown with fellow striking specialist Uriah Hall. Anderson Silva has not fought since May, 2019, when he was chopped down by a procession of leg kicks from surging middleweight contender Jared Cannonier. Prior to that, he came up short by decision in a clash with Israel Adesanya, who now holds the UFC middleweight title.
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.
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.
Israel Adesanya on upcoming Paulo Costa fight: “It’s a beautifully set up story. You couldn’t write this”
Harry Kettle - August 19, 2020
UFC star Israel Adesanya has spoken about the story behind his upcoming UFC 253 main event against contender Paulo Costa. Adesanya is set to defend his Middleweight Championship against the Brazilian next month, with both men putting their undefeated record on the line in the name of determining who is the very best at 185 pounds.
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.
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.
Kay Hansen booked against fellow prospect in return to Octagon
Adam Martin - August 18, 2020
Blue-chip prospect Kay Hansen will next square off against rising women’s strawweight Cory McKenna at a UFC event later this fall. The UFC announced the Hansen vs. McKenna bout during Tuesday night’s Dana White’s Contender Series 29. Check the new fights announcements below via Zach Candito.
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.
Opening odds for Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz released
Adam Martin - August 18, 2020
The opening odds have been released for the upcoming vacant UFC light heavyweight title bout between Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz. On Monday, news broke that the UFC is planning a fight between Reyes and Blachowicz for UFC 253, which takes place on September 26 at a yet-to-be-determined location. Not long after the news of Reyes vs. Blachowicz being in the works broke, UFC superstar Jon Jones took to Twitter to officially announce that he is vacating the light heavyweight title. Jones says he is working on a move up to heavyweight, and the 205lbs title is now vacant.
Junior dos Santos admits he's going through "a weird moment" in his MMA career
Tom Taylor - August 18, 2020
Junior dos Santos admits that, after three consecutive stoppage losses, he’s going through a “weird moment” in his mixed martial arts career. Dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champion, sought to rebound from back-to-back knockout losses to Francis Ngannou and Curtis Blaydes when he took on Jairzinho Rozenstruik on the main card of UFC 252 last weekend. Regrettably for the Brazilian and his team, things didn’t go as planned, as he succumbed to his foe’s punches in round two.