MMA News
UFC on ESPN+ 31 weigh-in results: Headliners on point, one fighter misses weight, one fight scrapped
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC on ESPN+ 31: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan takes place on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and the weigh-ins took place on Friday. Headliners Edmen Shahbazyan and Derek Brunson both made weight for their three-round middleweight main event. Shahbazyan, the unbeaten prospect from Glendale Fighting Club, weighed in at 185.5. Brunson, the long-time veteran, weighed in at 186.
Video | Fighter disqualified after shoving referee Marc Goddard
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
Featherweight Ahmad Al Darmaki was disqualified after shoving veteran MMA referee Marc Goddard at a UAE Warriors event in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Al Darmaki (2-6) submitted his opponent Bogdan Kirilenko with a vicious rear-naked choke but Al Darmaki refused to let go of the chokehold when Goddard tried to wave off the fight. Goddard yanked Al Darmaki off of his defenseless opponent and Al Darmaki was then seen shoving the referee and grabbing onto his shirt. Instead of winning the fight via submission, Goddard instead rightfully disqualified Al Darmaki instead.
Photo | Anthony Pettis studies film for potential Anderson Silva fight at UFC 254
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC welterweight Anthony Pettis posted a photo of him and coach Duke Roufus studying film for a potential Anderson Silva fight at UFC 254. Pettis called Silva out for a superfight between former UFC champions back in June, and Silva expressed interest in the bout as well, but so far nothing has come from it. UFC president Dana White was asked about a potential fight between the two stars and said that he has no interest in booking that fight.
Ali Abdelaziz: "I'm gonna do everything in my power" to make Henry Cejudo vs. Alexander Volkanovski happen
Tom Taylor - July 31, 2020
Henry Cejudo has been angling for a fight with UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, and his manager Ali Abdelaziz will be doing everything he can to make it happen. Cejudo, the former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion, retired in May, after defending his bantamweight strap with a TKO win over Dominick Cruz. Since his retirement announcement, he’s stated repeatedly that he’d return to the cage for a fight with Volkanovski, which would give him the opportunity to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.
Khamzat Chimaev promises first-round stoppage over Conor McGregor
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev is promising a first-round stoppage win if he gets the chance to fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Chimaev has quickly made a name for himself as he became the star of the UFC Fight Island series. After making his UFC debut at UFC Fight Island 1 with a vicious second-round submission win over John Phillips, Chimaev made UFC history when he picked up a second win in just 10 days when he defeated Rhys McKee via first-round TKO at UFC Fight Island 3. Fans, media, and fellow fighters are now pegging him as a future champ.
Zabit Magomedsharipov confirms main event against Yair Rodriguez on August 29
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov confirmed his main event fight against Yair Rodriguez will take place on August 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight between Magomedsharipov and Rodriguez has been rumored for months, with Igor Lazorin of Tass.ru confirming the matchup back in June. However, the fighters and the UFC haven’t said anything about the fight until now. On Thursday, Magomedsharipov took to his social media to confirm the fight against Rodriguez. The fight will take place on August 29 at a UFC Fight Night event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Dana White reacts after Conor McGregor accepts challenge from Khamzat Chimaev
Adam D Martin - July 31, 2020
UFC president Dana White reacted after superstar Conor McGregor seemingly agreed to a fight against up-and-coming prospect Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev has quickly become one of the brightest young stars in the UFC. After making his promotional debut earlier this month at UFC Fight Island 1 with a vicious submission win over John Phillips, Chimaev made UFC history when he finished Rhys McKee via TKO just 10 days later at UFC Fight Island 3. There is an incredible amount of hype behind Chimaev right now, with some looking at him as a potential future welterweight champ.
Randy Brown plans to test Vicente Luque's chin: "We will see if he can go three rounds"
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2020
Randy Brown is happy he still gets the chance to fight Vicente Luque. The two were supposed to fight in April but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, Luque ended up earning a TKO win over Niko Price. So, for Brown, he thought his chances of fighting the ranked welterweight were out the window.
Pro fighters make their picks for Derek Brunson vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 5, Derek Brunson is looking to extend his winning streak when he takes Edmen Shahbazyan. Heading into the fight, Brunson is a +255 underdog while the undefeated prospect is a -335 favorite. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are split on this one with some thinking Brunson is a step up too soon while others believe the hype is real behind Shahbazyan.
Manager Ali Abdelaziz weighs in on Khabib Nurmagomedov's fighting future
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz believes we could see plenty more of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov over the next few years, but is reluctant to comment on the Russian’s fighting future until his showdown with the division’s interim champion Justin Gaethje in the rear-view. Nurmagomedov and Gaethje, who are both managed by Abdelaziz, are set to collide for the UFC lightweight title on October 24. Abdelaziz views the fight as tremendously dangerous for both champion and challenger, but believes it’s possible Nurmagomedov, who is currently 28-0, could strive for a perfect 30-0 mark if he’s victorious.
Stipe Miocic plans to tell the referee to watch for the "eye pokes" of Daniel Cormier in upcoming trilogy
Natasha Hooper - July 30, 2020
Stipe Miocic says he’ll warn the referee for his upcoming trilogy fight with Daniel Cormier to be on the lookout for illegal eye pokes. The heavyweight star first faced off against “DC” in 2018, at UFC 226. In that fight, Cormier picked up a first-round knockout win to earn the UFC heavyweight title.
Ali Abdelaziz on partnership with ONE Championship: 'This is going to be good for everybody'
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Earlier this week, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced a new partnership with MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz and his company, Dominance MMA. Abdelaziz and Sityodtong were first introduced through their mutual friend, Renzo Gracie, but only recently began working together. Both agree the relationship is long overdue.
Vitor Belfort says Wanderlei Silva deserves a "beating"
Adam Martin - July 30, 2020
MMA legend Vitor Belfort once again called out his long-time rival Wanderlei Silva, saying his fellow Brazilian deserves a “beating.” Two of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Belfort and Silva first met almost 22 years ago, back at UFC Brazil in October 1998. In one of the greatest knockouts of all time, the young phenom Belfort blitzed Silva and finished him in just 44 seconds in what is still one of the most stunning, brutal, and violent finishes we’ve ever seen in mixed martial arts.
Alexander Volkanovski says Henry Cejudo fight would be "a waste of time"
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Reigning UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes a fight with former bantamweight and flyweight champ Henry Cejudo would be “a waste of time.” Cejudo retired earlier this year, after a TKO win over Dominick Cruz. Despite his retirement, he’s been adamant that he’s interested in returning to the cage for the opportunity to challenge Volkanovski for the featherweight belt.
Paulo Costa won't be squashing beef with Israel Adesanya after fight
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
If you think Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya will squash their beef after their UFC 253 middleweight title fight, you can think again. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Costa vowed not to shake his opponent’s fight with the action has subsided.
Tony Ferguson issues scathing response to doubters who want him to retire
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Tony Ferguson has issued a fiery response to the members of the MMA community who have suggested he should hang up the gloves. Ferguson, the former UFC interim lightweight champion, has not fought since May, when sustained a violent beating at the hands of Justin Gaethje, which culminated with a fifth-round TKO loss.
Khamzat Chimaev trolls "weak man" Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
Sweden’s Khamzat Chimaev has taken another shot at former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor. Earlier this week, in an interview with reporter Adam Zubayraev, Chimaev claimed that, in 2018, he flew to Ireland with the objective of attacking McGregor.
Petr Yan trashes Cody Garbrandt for "running away" to flyweight
Tom Taylor - July 30, 2020
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has sent a scathing message to Cody Garbrandt, who recently laid out plans to drop down to the flyweight division. Garbrandt, who recently burst back into bantamweight title contention with a knockout win over Raphael Assuncao, discussed his plans for a drop to flyweight in a recent interview with ESPN.