MMA News

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

Colby Covington was not impressed by his former training partner Dustin Poirier’s recent decision victory over Dan Hooker. Poirier and Hooker, two top lightweight contenders, collided in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12 last Saturday, battling for 25 hard minutes in what many viewed as a Fight of the Year contender. In the end, Poirier won the fight by unanimous decision—but the performance didn’t do much to move Covington.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

Justin Gaethje has sent a warm message to his next opponent, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose father Abdulmanap passed away this week. Abdulmanap died in a Moscow hospital this week, succumbing to COVID-19-related complications. There was an immediate outpouring of condolences and well-wishes from many notable members of the MMA community, all of whom recognize the massive influence Abdulmanap had not only on Khabib but many other fighters in Dagestan.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

The UFC’s four-event stint on Fight Island (Yas Island in Abu Dhabi) has been hit by three shake-ups, including two resulting from positive COVID-19 tests. Earlier this week, MMA Junkie reported that England’s Danny Roberts has withdrawn from his welterweight fight with Denmark’s Nicolas Dalby, and Kazakhstan’s Shavkat Rakhmonov is out of his welterweight fight with Russia’s Ramazan Emeev. The report did not specify why Roberts and Rakhmonov withdrew. Both fights were scheduled to occur on the UFC’s July 25 Fight Island card — the final event in that location. Since then, Dalby has accepted Canada’s Jesse Ronson as a replacement opponent for the same card. Emeev is still without a replacement opponent.

Harry Kettle - July 3, 2020

UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson believes a win over Kelvin Gastelum holds more value than a win over former champion Chris Weidman. Hermansson, who last fought in a losing effort to Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Copenhagen last September, was scheduled to take on Weidman at the start of May in Oklahoma City. Alas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans were scrapped – and instead, Hermansson is now set to go head-to-head with former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum on July 18.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has died at 57. The renowned trainer, who also coached a number of other combat sports notables, passed away in a Moscow hospital due to COVID-19 complications. This tragic news was reported by Russian publication RT on Friday morning.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight champion Aung La N Sang has tested positive for COVID-19. Aung La announced his positive test on Instagram on Thursday evening, adding that he and his wife and two children will now self-isolate for 14 days in their South Florida home.

Tom Taylor - July 3, 2020

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has died COVID-19 complications. He was 57 years old. News of Nurmagomedov’s death was first reported by Russian news outlet RT, which cites an announcement from Chechen Republic leader and friend of the Nurmagomedov family Ramzan Kadyrov.

Chris Taylor - July 2, 2020

Coach Kavanagh claims that a few UFC fighters have pulled him aside at events to send their appreciation to his ‘boy’ Conor McGregor for “changing the game”. John Kavanagh’s claim came shortly after Dustin Poirier suggested that he credited his defeat to McGregor as the reason for his career resurgence.

Adam Martin - July 2, 2020

An intriguing featherweight bout between Ryan Hall and Ricardo Lamas has been re-booked for a UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas later this summer. Hall vs. Lamas was scheduled to take place at the UFC Oklahoma City card that was set for May 2, but the event was scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, the UFC has been able to re-book the fight, and Hall vs. Lamas is now set to take place on a UFC Fight Night card at the UFC Apex in its home base of Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 29.

Adam Martin - July 2, 2020

UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich was reportedly arrested on Monday in Moline, Illinois, on suspicion of driving while under the influence. According to the Quad-City Times, the 54-year-old legend of mixed martial arts was pulled over on River Drive in Moline at 12:30 a.m. on Monday, as per Moline Police arrest reports. The report says that Miletich was booked into Rock Island County Jail at 2 a.m. on charges of driving while under the influence. There is no confirmation yet if Miletich was above or below the legal blood alcohol content limit of .08 as Illinois state laws say that any amount of alcohol in one’s system that impairs their ability to drive can lead to DWI charges.

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2020

Max Holloway believes UFC featherweight champion, Alex Volkanovski is a very good point fighter. In the co-main event of UFC 251, Volkanovski will look to defend his featherweight title against the former champ in Holloway. The two met back at UFC 245 where it was the Aussie in Volkanovski edging out a unanimous decision win to win the belt.

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2020

Former UFC heavyweight, Brendan Schaub has revealed he has contracted COVID-19. Schaub, who retired from MMA in 2015 has taken up comedy and become a successful podcaster took to Twitter to announce he has the coronavirus. But, the good news, is the fact he is almost back to 100 percent healthy and has overcome the virus.

Cole Shelton - July 2, 2020

Khama Worthy is now 2-0 inside the Octagon with both wins being upsets. In his UFC debut at UFC 241, Worthy took the fight on super short notice and knocked out a highly touted prospect in Devonte Smith. The 33-year-old then pulled off a third-round submission win over Luis Pena at UFC on ESPN 12 where he was another sizeable underdog

Adam Martin - July 2, 2020

The full betting odds have been released for UFC 251: Usman vs. Burns, the first event from the promotion scheduled to take place on UFC Fight Island. UFC 251 takes place on Saturday, July 11 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main event sees UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman put his belt on the line against No. 1 contender Gilbert Burns, while the co-main event is a rematch between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champ Max Holloway.

Tom Taylor - July 2, 2020

Conor McGregor has responded to a comment from top lightweight contender Dustin Poirier, who he defeated by knockout in a 2014 featherweight fight. Speaking to ESPN this week, Poirier explained that his loss to McGregor helped him grow and mature as a fighter.

Tom Taylor - July 2, 2020

Colby Covington is interested in a winner take all fight with his former friend and training partner Jorge Masvidal. Covington and Masvidal spent many years as stablemates at American Top Team in Florida, but as the pair reached the top of the UFC welterweight division, they relationship began to fray. Today, they’re two of the fiercest rivals in MMA.

Tom Taylor - July 2, 2020

UFC 252, scheduled for August 15 at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, is starting to look like the kind of card that shouldn’t be missed. UFC 252 will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between the division’s reigning champion Stipe Miocic and it’s former ruler Daniel Cormier.

Tom Taylor - July 2, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier says a 2014 knockout loss to Conor McGregor had a significant affect on his evolution as a fighter. Speaking to ESPN this week, Poirier explained how his mentality changed and matured after his loss to McGregor.