MMA News
VIDEO | Henry Cejudo goes to bat for Mike Perry, claims ‘Platinum’ is innocent
Natasha Hooper - July 20, 2020
The former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion, Henry Cejudo, has backed Mike Perry following his alleged bar fight in Texas, as the pair shrugged off any negativity in a video posted to social media. Perry, a welterweight, allegedly punched an older gentleman in a bar during an outing with his girlfriend earlier this month.
Dana White not rushing Khabib Nurmagomedov back to the Octagon: “He’s going to fight when he calls me”
Natasha Hooper - July 20, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov is taking some time away from fighting according to UFC President Dana White. It has been an unfortunate year for the undisputed lightweight champion. He was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson in an eagerly-anticipated matchup at UFC 249 in May earlier this year. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent travel restrictions, he was forced to withdraw from the upcoming title defence.
Marlon Moraes believes he should be next to fight Petr Yan for UFC bantamweight title
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes believes he should be next in line to fight new UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan. Fans and media believed that Aljamain Sterling was next in line to fight for the belt after tapping out Cory Sandhagen in the first round at UFC 250. However, UFC president Dana White has not committed to giving Sterling the next title shot again Yan. Every time the media at Fight Island has asked White about Sterling getting the next title shot, he has said he isn’t sure, potentially opening up the next title shot against Yan for someone else.
Dana White praises incredible striking duel between Rafael Fiziev and Marc Diakiese: "Oh my God"
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC president Dana White was a big fan of the striking duel between lightweight standouts Rafael Fiziev and Marc Diakiese at UFC Fight Island 2. In what was later deemed the “Fight of the Night” at UFC Fight Island 2, Fiziev and Diakiese went three hard rounds of pure striking, throwing everything in their arsenal at one another over the 15 minutes allotted. Fiziev ended up winning a unanimous decision in the fight, but Diakiese proved his worth with a durable showing against an elite striker.
Ali Abdelaziz lays out Conor McGregor's path to a lightweight title shot
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
Kamaru Usman rips Conor McGregor for fighting lightweights with double-digit losses
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman ripped superstar Conor McGregor for fighting lightweights with double-digit losses at 170lbs. Usman, fresh off of a dominant decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251, spoke to TMZ Sports and was asked about a potential fight with McGregor. According to the champ, he offered McGregor a title shot but never heard back from him. Instead, Usman says McGregor is too busy picking off lightweight at 170lbs so he doesn’t have to cut weight.
Khamzat Chimaev makes quick return at UFC Fight Island 3, has chance to set UFC record
Adam Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev will soon get the chance to break a modern-day UFC record for the shortest amount of time to get two wins in the Octagon. Chimaev made his UFC debut this past Wednesday when he submitted John Phillips in one of the most dominant UFC debuts we have ever seen. From the opening bell of the first round until the round was over, Chimaev beat down Phillips so badly that one judge even scored the round 10-7 in his favor. In the second round, Chimaev locked up a D’arce choke to defeat Phillips and earn himself a $50,000 bonus for “Performance of the Night.”
VIDEO | Pat Miletich loses split decision to Michael Nunn in kickboxing bout with live crowd
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
Former UFC welterweight champion Pat Miletich lost a split decision to Michael Nunn in a kickboxing bout that took place on Saturday in Davenport, Iowa. Miletich, the first-ever UFC welterweight champion, retired from MMA in 2008 after a knockout win over Thomas Denny, and for the last 12 years, he has stayed in the game primarily as a commentator. But the desire to compete was always still there for Miletich, and he wanted to step into the ring one more time. His long time promoter Monte Cox liked the idea and booked Miletich against Nunn in a straight kickboxing match.
A look back at the astonishing career of UFC champion Jon Jones
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones turned 33 years old on Sunday, so it’s the perfect time to go back and take a look at his astonishing MMA career. Tomorrow I turn 33!
Video | Rafael Fiziev reacts to news that he is receiving a $50K performance bonus
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev reacted to the news that he was one of the lucky winners of a $50,000 bonus award at UFC Fight Island 2. Along with Ariane Lipski and Deiveson Figueiredo, who won $50,000 each for “Performance of the Night,” Fiziev and fellow lightweight Marc Diakiese won bonuses for “Fight of the Night” for their incredible striking battle on the UFC Fight Island 2 main card. Following the event, a video was posted of Fiziev reacting to the incredible news that he won a bonus.
Photo | Former UFC champ Chris Weidman appears to be in phenomenal shape ahead of middleweight return
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman appears to be in phenomenal shape ahead of his middleweight return against Omari Akhmedov. Weidman takes on Akhmedov on August 8 at a UFC event that is set for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Weidman was originally set to take on Jack Hermansson at UFC Oklahoma City in May, but that card fell apart due to the coronavirus pandemic. Weidman instead will now take on Akhmedov in what is essentially a must-win fight this August.
Conor McGregor lights massive joint while responding to Football Star Sergio Ramos
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
Retired UFC superstar Conor McGregor lit up a massive joint in an Instagram Live video while responding to football star Sergio Ramos. McGregor was responding to a post that Ramos tagged him on via Instagram, and he showed what he’s been up to during his retirement. In the video, McGregor lights up a massive joint while relaxing on a pool chair. Take a look at the video below.
Photo | Darren Till is looking absolutely shredded ahead of middleweight showdown with Robert Whittaker
Adam D Martin - July 19, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Darren Till is looking absolutely shredded in anticipation of his fight against Robert Whittaker next Saturday on Fight Island. Till and Whittaker meet in the main event of the fourth overall Fight Island card. For these two middleweight contenders, this is a super important fight in the 185lbs division. The winner of this bout could very well earn a title shot against the winner of UFC 253’s Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa middleweight title fight that was just announced.
Dana White reacts to Deiveson Figueiredo's "pure violence" victory over Joseph Benavidez
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
UFC President Dana White was very impressed by Deiveson Figueiredo’s title-earning victory over Joseph Benavidez this evening. In the main event of UFC Fight Island 2, Figueiredo and Benavidez collided for a second time with the promotions vacant flyweight title on the line.
Joseph Benavidez issues statement following loss to Deiveson Figueiredo: "I'm not going out like that"
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
Joseph Benavidez received another shot at UFC gold when he squared off with Deiveson Figueiredo in tonight’s UFC Fight Island 2 headliner. The bout marked Benavidez’s fourth career shot at UFC flyweight gold, this after coming up short in his three previous attempts to Demetrious Johnson (x2) and the aforementioned Figueiredo.
Kelvin Gastelum issues statement following submission loss to Jack Hermansson
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
Kelvin Gastelum was looking to snap a two-fight losing skid when he squared off with Jack Hermansson in the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Fight Island 2 event. Unfortunately for The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner, things did not go as planned in his bout with ‘The Joker’ this evening. After Hermansson shot in for a takedown, Gastelum was able to hit a beautiful reversal that put the powerful Swede on his back. However, Hermansson quickly rolled for a heel hook submission and was able to secure the hold. After a quick crank, Kelvin Gastelum had no choice but to tapout.
Henry Cejudo reacts to Deiveson Figueiredo's submission victory over Joseph Benavidez
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
Former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo was clearly watching tonight’s UFC Fight Island 2 main event between Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez. Figueiredo and Benavidez were squaring off for a second time, this after their first encounter for the promotions vacant flyweight title had ended in somewhat controversial fashion. In their first meeting, the flyweights appeared to clash heads which opened up a cut on the head of ‘Joe-Jitsu’ and shortly after the Brazilian in Figueiredo was able to finish the fight.
UFC Fight Island 2 Results: Deiveson Figueiredo sleeps Joseph Benavidez (Video)
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez will once again throw down for the promotions vacant flyweight title at tonight’s UFC Fight Island 2 event. The flyweight standouts, Figueiredo and Benavidez first met this past February in Virginia, with the Brazilian emerging victorious by way of TKO shortly following an accidental headbutt.
Pros react to Jack Hermansson defeating Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Island 2
Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Fight Island 2 co-main event featured a key middleweight bout between perennial division contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Jack Hermansson. Gastelum (15-5 MMA) was looking to snap a two-fight losing skid when he squared off with ‘The Joker’ this evening. In his most previous effort at November’s UFC 244 event, ‘KG’ wound up on the wrong end of a split-decision against Darren Till.