MMA News
Edmen Shahbazyan eyes "dominant performance" over Derek Brunson in main event of UFC Vegas 5
Cole Shelton - July 29, 2020
Edmen Shahbazyan is looking to turn some more heads when he headlines this Saturday’s card against Derek Brunson. Shahbazyan vs. Brunson was originally scheduled to be the co-main event, but after Irene Aldana tested positive for COVID-19,the bout was moved to headliner status.
Tony Ferguson sends a message to people telling him to retire: "F**k you"
Cole Shelton - July 29, 2020
Tony Ferguson has made it clear that he is not ready to retire. Following Ferguson’s fifth-round TKO loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249, many wondered if “El Cucuy” is now past his prime and how the damage over the years has impacted him. Yet, for the former interim lightweight champion, he says he isn’t even thinking about retiring.
Edmen Shahbazyan opens up on relationship with manager Ronda Rousey: "She inspired me"
Cole Shelton - July 29, 2020
Edmen Shahbazyan knows he is lucky to have Ronda Rousey as his manager. When Rousey was the UFC champion, one of her training partners was then 15-year-old, Edmen Shahbazyan who trained at the gym. At open workouts, Shahbazyan was the person Rousey would judo throw. But, since then, “Rowdy” knew he would be something special.
UFC’s Big Bang: A world where Conor McGregor fought Rafael dos Anjos would have looked very different
Jordy McElroy - July 29, 2020
The galactic forces that knocked Rafael dos Anjos out of a superfight with Conor McGregor over four years ago was a miniature big bang that indirectly spawned an iconic cross-promotional boxing match, a BMF UFC title and the most volatile rivalry in MMA history. Put on the tinfoil hats, ladies and gents. It’s time to go deep-diving into a dystopian world of what-ifs.
Ronda Rousey praises "special" young talent Edmen Shahbazyan: "He's the one"
Adam Martin - July 29, 2020
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey praised middleweight prospect Edmen Shahbazyan, calling him a “special” young talent. Rousey, the UFC Hall of Famer, is the manager for Shahbazyan, who also trains at Rousey’s old stomping grounds at Glendale Fighting Club. The young middleweight headlines his first UFC event this weekend when he takes Derek Brunson at UFC on ESPN+ 31. It’s a massive fight for the 22-year-old Shahbazyan, who is a perfect 11-0 in his MMA career thus far. In the biggest fight of his young career to date, Shahbazyan will be looking to jump into title contention at 185lbs with a win over the perennial contender Brunson this Saturday night.
Alexander Volkanovski responds to talk of Holloway trilogy
Tom Taylor - July 29, 2020
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has reacted to talk of a third consecutive fight with the division’s former champion Max Holloway. Volkanovski and Holloway have fought twice in the last year. The pair first met in December, when Volkanovski defeated Holloway by decision to capture the featherweight title. They then met in an immediate rematch in July, when Volkanovski won a second decision—this one very controversial—to retain the belt.
Henry Cejudo responds to jab from Amanda “The Sheep” Nunes
Harry Kettle - July 29, 2020
Retired UFC star Henry Cejudo has issued a response to Amanda Nunes following a recent jab from her on social media. You want me to kick his ass? 🤪 Vamos para + uma guerra? #nunesvscejudo @HenryCejudo pic.twitter.com/CpLd0Tn4yx
Rafael dos Anjos puts the UFC on notice: “I’m ready for 155 with 5 weeks notice or 170 with 1 day notice”
Harry Kettle - July 29, 2020
UFC veteran Rafael dos Anjos has let the promotion know that he is ready to take a fight on short notice at either welterweight or lightweight. There are many fighters in the world of mixed martial arts that would be willing to take a fight on short notice in the UFC, especially under the current set of circumstances. RDA has been part of the UFC family for well over a decade now, and yet even after everything he’s been through, he’s still as determined as ever to climb up through the ranks.
Tony Ferguson lays out options for next opponent
Tom Taylor - July 29, 2020
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has laid out the options for his next opponent, and his suggestions are very exciting. Ferguson last fought in May, in the main event of UFC 249, when he collided with Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title fight. In a noteworthy upset, “El Cucuy” sustained a violent beating at the hands of Gaethje, and ultimately succumbed to a volley of fifth-round strikes. The loss marked the end of his stupendous, 12-fight winning streak, and nixed the possibility of his fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov for the undisputed lightweight title this year.
Report | Paige VanZant in "talks" with BKFC
Tom Taylor - July 29, 2020
Paige VanZant, now a free agent after a lengthy stint with the UFC, is reportedly in preliminary talks with bare knuckle fighting promotion BKFC. News of the discussions between VanZant and BKFC were first reported by Mike Russell on Twitter.
Khabib Nurmagomedov drops ideal timeframe for GSP superfight
Tom Taylor - July 29, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov has made his intentions clear. He plans on fighting Justin Gaethje in October, and Georges St-Pierre in April. Nurmagomedov, the UFC lightweight champion, shared his plan in a comment on Instagram.
UFC Fight Island 3 medical suspensions: Darren Till, Robert Whittaker facing short breaks
Tom Taylor - July 29, 2020
The medical suspensions for UFC Fight Island 3 are in, and neither Robert Whittaker nor Darren Till will be out long. Whittaker and Till met in the UFC Fight Island 3 main event, with Whittaker ultimately winning a closely contested decision.
Georges St-Pierre reacts to news that Dana White is now open to Khabib Nurmagomedov fight
Natasha Hooper - July 29, 2020
Georges St-Pierre has reacted to news that the UFC president Dana White has finally agreed to a possible matchup against Khabib Nurmagomedov. St-Pierre, the former welterweight and middleweight champion is widely regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time. With 26 wins over the likes of Michael Bisping, Johny Hendricks, Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck, BJ Penn, Matt Serra and Matt Hughes, and just two losses, the Canadian legend finally decided in February 2019 that is was the right time to retire.
Cody Garbrandt says he's the number one contender at 125lbs, wants Deiveson Figueiredo next
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2020
Cody Garbrandt believes he is the number one contender at flyweight and wants the next title shot. After Deiveson Figueiredo beat Joseph Benavidez many wondered what would be next for the new flyweight king. Three names came up in Alex Perez, Brandon Moreno, and Askar Askarov. Yet, the former bantamweight champion in Garbrandt has been open about a drop to flyweight and says Dana White has told him they are working on him fighting Figueiredo.
GSP calls Royce Gracie the GOAT, but says Jon Jones is the best of the modern era
Adam Martin - July 28, 2020
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre says that if it was up to him, he’d name Royce Gracie as MMA’s GOAT, while admitting Jon Jones is the best of the modern era. The question of who is the MMA GOAT is always a difficult one to answer. If you ask fans, media, and fighters, they will all give you a different answer. But generally, the top fighters who are listed are GSP, Jones, Gracie, Anderson Silva, Demetrious Johnson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, plus a few others. But that is the shortlist of the potential GOATs.
Roy Jones Jr. says after Mike Tyson fight, Anderson Silva can "get it"
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2020
Roy Jones Jr. is still interested in having a boxing match against Anderson Silva. On September 12, Jones Jr. will be making his return to boxing against another legend in Mike Tyson. It immediately piqued the interest of combat sports fans and many wondered if it will be a one-off for both men.
Calvin Kattar "wouldn’t be surprised" if he gets the next title shot against Alex Volkanovski
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2020
Calvin Kattar believes he could very well be fighting for UFC gold next time out. Kattar, who is currently ranked sixth in the division, is already 2-0 in 2020. He had a knockout win over Jeremy Stephens and most recently a decision win over Dan Ige. Not only did he beat the streaking Ige, but he also did it over five rounds.
Is Khamzat Chimaev ready for Kamaru Usman? Dana White says "maybe"
Tom Taylor - July 28, 2020
UFC President Dana White believes it’s possible that Khamzat Chimaev is already skilled enough to hang with UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Chimaev was the breakout star of the UFC’s four-even stint on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. The Chechen-Swede won two fights in a 10-day span, submitting John Phillips at middleweight and Rhys McKee by TKO at welterweight—both in the first round.




