MMA News

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

Long-time UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier recognizes that he’s entering the final stretch of his incredible MMA career, and he wants to make his last years of competition count. Poirier is riding a thrilling, decision victory over New Zealand’s Dan Hooker, which instantly reasserted him as one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.

Adam Martin - July 21, 2020

UFC legend Shogun Rua has confirmed he only has two or three fights left in his legendary MMA career before he finally hangs up his gloves. Rua, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix champion, takes on long-time rival Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the co-main event of this Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 14 event. Little Nog has already confirmed that at age 44, this will be the final fight of his own legendary career. As for Rua, at age 38 he isn’t planning on hanging his up gloves just yet, but at this point only has a few fights left to give fans.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre says Khabib Nurmagomedov, the reigning lightweight champion, is the perfect fighter. St-Pierre, who is currently retired, has long expressed interest in a possible super fight with Nurmagomedov. Speaking on the MMA TRUFAN podcast, the Canadian MMA legend explained the allure of this potential matchup.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

UFC President Dana White is not happy about the recent reports that Israel Adesanya will defend the UFC middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253. News of this UFC 253 middleweight title fight was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate, and subsequently confirmed by MMA Fighting.

Natasha Hooper - July 21, 2020

On UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi last weekend, Deiveson Figueiredo earned the flyweight with a win over Joseph Benavidez. He already headed back to his home turf of Brazil on Sunday afternoon accompanied by his new UFC belt. Figueiredo and Benavidez first fought back in February, where it was Figueiredo who won by second-round knockout. However the Brazilian missed weight, so he didn’t claim the flyweight belt.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

As Sean O’Malley closes in on a title fight with bantamweight champion Petr Yan, he’s keen to avoid a mistake made by MMA superstar Conor McGregor. O’Malley is easily one of the most promising prospects in MMA right now, and he’s already on the radar of many of his division’s top fighters, including former champions Henry Cejudo and Cody Garbrandt, and the reigning champion Yan.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

After a long stint with the UFC, Paige VanZant is now a free agent, but her mixed martial arts career is far from over. VanZant fulfilled the final obligation of her latest UFC contract at UFC 251, when she was submitted by Amanda Ribas. While it’s possible she will re-sign with the UFC, she can now field offers from other promotions.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier says he “fumbled” his 2019 rematch with Stipe Miocic. Cormier and Miocic first met in 2018, when Cormier, then the light heavyweight champion, challenged Miocic for the heavyweight strap. In a historic feat, Cormier won this fight by first-round knockout.

Harry Kettle - July 21, 2020

UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has released footage of him and Michael Bisping officially squashing their beef backstage at a past event. While the two UFC veterans do now appear to be on great terms, once upon a time, there was a real sense of animosity between them that had been detailed thoroughly in various interviews and actual interactions between the two.

Natasha Hooper - July 21, 2020

According to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, Khabib Nurmagomedov encouraged Justin Gaethje to go fight Conor McGregor next. UFC president Dana White recently revealed that “The Eagle” is taking some time away from the Octagon due to the tragic death off his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. He was expected to return to fighting at UFC 253 on September 19 and defend his belt against the lightweight interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje. White hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the fight but is still waiting for a callback from Nurmagomedov to see where his head is at.

Adam Martin - July 20, 2020

UFC president Dana White praised women’s flyweight contender Amanda Ribas and said she will return to the Octagon this fall. Ribas is coming off of a first-round armbar submission win over Paige VanZant in the main card pay-per-view opener at UFC 251. The win upped Ribas’ record in the UFC to 4-0 with wins over VanZant, Randa Markos, Mackenzie Dern, and Emily Whitmire. White and the UFC are always looking for the next big thing, especially in the women’s weight divisions, and Ribas appears like she could break out and become a massive star for the promotion.

Cole Shelton - July 20, 2020

Joanne Calderwood may not be getting the next title shot after all. Calderwood was set to take on Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 251 when it was supposed to take place in Perth, Australia. Yet, an injury to champion and the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans. But, all signs still pointed to her fighting Shevchenko until now.

Cole Shelton - July 20, 2020

In the main event of UFC Fight Island 2, Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez had an immediate rematch for the vacant flyweight title. The two fought back in February, where it was Figueiredo who won by second-round knockout. Yet, the Brazilian missed weight and there was a headbutt that impacted the stoppage.

Cole Shelton - July 20, 2020

Daniel Cormier does not believe Khabib Nurmagomedov will be fighting in 2020. He also doesn’t know if his teammate will even fight again. Nurmagomedov was expected to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 253 on September 19. Yet, his father recently passed away due to complications of COVID-19. Since then, the undefeated champion has been mourning his father, while many have wondered when may he fight again.

Tom Taylor - July 20, 2020

On Monday afternoon, surging UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns announced that he has tested negative for COVID-19. Burns was expected to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. Regrettably, he tested positive for COVID-19, and was promptly removed from the matchup as a result. He was then replaced by Jorge Masvidal, who Usman defeated by unanimous decision.

Adam Martin - July 20, 2020

We have an update for the betting odds in the upcoming middleweight title fight at UFC 253 between champion Israel Adesanya and challenger Paulo Costa. The odds for Adesanya vs. Costa were actually originally released last fall immediately after Adesanya knocked out Robert Whittaker to win the belt at UFC 243. At the time, Costa was coming off of a decision win over Yoel Romero at UFC 241 and was set to fight Adesanya for the belt. Unfortunately, Costa injured his bicep and couldn’t fight for the belt. Instead, Adesanya took on Romero at UFC 248 and won a unanimous decision to keep his belt.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - July 20, 2020

Chael Sonnen feels the UFC bantamweight division is a mess and we have Petr Yan to thank. Yan competed for the vacant UFC bantamweight title on July 11. He met Jose Aldo on the main card of UFC 251. Yan scored a fifth-round TKO victory to capture UFC gold for the first time in his pro MMA career.

Tom Taylor - July 20, 2020

UFC President Dana White isn’t ready to guarantee Aljamain Sterling the next crack at the UFC bantamweight title. The UFC bantamweight throne was left vacant after the former champion Henry Cejudo retired in May. A new champion was crowned at UFC 251 earlier this month, when Petr Yan defeated Jose Aldo by fifth-round TKO in a fight for the vacant title.