MMA News
Jorge Masvidal says he will fight in 2020
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Jorge Masvidal is currently embroiled in a heated contract dispute with the UFC, but he says he intends on fighting in 2020 nonetheless. Masvidal was expected to be given the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but demanded a pay bump after a banner year in 2019. Evidently, the UFC was unwilling to play ball, as the promotion ultimately awarded the next welterweight title shot to Gilbert Burns, leaving Masvidal without a fight.
Gilbert Burns denies Masvidal's claim he accepted "lowest money possible to fight for a title"
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Gilbert Burns has responded to a recent claim from Jorge Masvidal surrounding his payment for his UFC 251 title fight with Kamaru Usman. Masvidal was widely expected to be the next man in line for a shot at Usman, but ultimately entered into a heated contract dispute with the UFC. When negotiations stalled, Burns was awarded the next shot at Usman in Masvidal’s place.
Jorge Masvidal claims Gilbert Burns is getting the "lowest possible money" for title fight
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2020
Jorge Masvidal says Gilbert Burns is getting the lowest possible amount of money for his upcoming welterweight title fight with champion Kamaru Usman. Masvidal was widely expected to be the next man in line for a shot at Usman, but ultimately entered into a heated contract dispute with the UFC. When negotiations stalled, Burns was awarded the next shot at Usman.
Marlon Vera responds after Sean O’Malley shows interest in potential UFC bout
Natasha Hooper - June 25, 2020
Marlon Vera has responded to a possible UFC matchup against Sean O’Malley. O’Malley and Vera were initially expected to fight at UFC 239 in 2019. However, “Sugar” was forced to withdraw from the card after traces of Ostarine were found in his system. “Chito” then called out the 25-year old for the last-minute change of plans.
Kenny Florian: Smaller UFC cage 'greatly favors' Daniel Cormier in Stipe Miocic trilogy bout
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 25, 2020
Kenny Florian believes a smaller UFC cage is bad news for Stipe Miocic going into his trilogy bout with Daniel Cormier. Miocic and Cormier are set to collide once more on Aug. 15. The heavyweight title bout will headline UFC 252 inside the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. The standard size of the Octagon is 30 ft. The one used inside the UFC APEX is 25 ft.
Conor McGregor believes Khabib Nurmagomedov's father's battle with Covid-19 was a "cover up"
Chris Taylor - June 24, 2020
Despite his recent retirement announcement the beef between Conor McGregor and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov remains alive and well. ‘Notorious’ and ‘The Eagle’ collided for the promotions lightweight world title in October of 2018 at UFC 229, with the undefeated Russian emerging victorious by way of fourth round submission.
Jorge Masvidal responds to Dana White: "We don't see eye-to-eye on anything”
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Jorge Masvidal has issued a response to Dana White after the UFC president claimed MMA is not a career. With fighters like Masvidal and Jon Jones saying they will sit out due to fighter pay, White recently stated that being in the UFC is not a career. Instead, it is an opportunity and fighters need to take every opportunity they can get.
Report | UFC fighters competing on Fight Island will be tested for COVID-19 five times
Adam Martin - June 24, 2020
The UFC plans on increasing its coronavirus testing for the fighters competing on Fight Island as they will be required to take five COVID-19 tests overall. The increased number of COVID-19 tests, in fact, applies to anyone that is headed to Fight Island, including the fighters, cornermen, and UFC staff. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi had the scoop, and he also shared a flow chart highlighting the changes to the UFC’s coronavirus testing protocol for the four events scheduled to take place on Fight Island in July.
Maurice Greene gives opponent Gian Villante advice: If you don't wrestle, you’re going "to get knocked the f****d out"
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Maurice Greene is excited to welcome Gian Villante to the heavyweight division on the main card of UFC on ESPN 12 this Saturday night. Greene enters this fight on a two-fight losing streak where last time out, he was submitted by Alexey Oleynik. Although some think it is a must-win for Greene to remain in the UFC, he isn’t thinking about that.
Justin Jaynes open to drop to featherweight to fight Alex Caceres after KO win over Frank Camacho
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Justin Jaynes had been fighting professionally since 2013. But, he has been doing unsanctioned amateur fights in Michigan since 2007 and finally got the call to the UFC last weekend. At UFC on ESPN 11, Jaynes replaced Matt Frevola to fight Frank Camacho in a lightweight scrap. For the 30-year-old, to finally get the UFC call was a massive relief. But, he admits seeing people he beat on the regional scene getting chances on the Contender Series or shots in the UFC was frustrating.
Anthony Smith: Max Rohskopf "isn't a quitter"
Adam Martin - June 24, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes that lightweight Max Rohskopf “isn’t a quitter” after retiring on the stool against Austin Hubbard. Taking to Twitter after interviewing Rohskopf on SXM Fight Nation Radio, Smith — who the word quitter can never be attributed to after seeing the beating he took against Glover Teixeira at UFC Jacksonville in May — said he believes Rohskopf isn’t a quitter.
Jorge Masvidal says he’s "set for life" and doesn't have to fight again if he doesn't get what he's worth
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2020
Jorge Masvidal makes it clear he doesn’t have to fight again. For months now, the expectation was that Masvidal would be fighting Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title this summer. Yet, negotiations between “Gamebred” and the UFC stalled leaving Gilbert Burns to get the title shot.
Michael Bisping goes off on "little steroid cheating f**k" Chad Mendes
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
Michael Bisping has opened up on an unlikely beef with former three-time UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes. This unexpected beef between Bisping and Mendes stems from a May Instagram post from Bisping’s former opponent Tim Kennedy. In his post, Kennedy looked back on beating Bisping, and ripped into the Englishman for his trash talk.
Alexander Gustafsson flaunts new heavyweight physique, has "never felt so strong"
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson is looking healthy and happy as prepares for his debut in the heavyweight division. Apparently, he’s feeling great, too. Gustafsson will make his debut in the UFC heavyweight division on July 25 at a Fight Night event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. He’ll be welcomed to the weight class by the former champion, Brazil’s Fabricio Werdum.
Paige VanZant on UFC fighter pay: "I can make way more money just promoting brands on Instagram"
Adam Martin - June 24, 2020
UFC women’s flyweight Paige VanZant criticized the fighter pay in the UFC, saying she can make more money promoting brands on her Instagram. VanZant has not fought since January 2019, when she submitted Rachael Ostovich at UFC on ESPN+ 1, due to numerous injuries. After 18 months out of the cage, she makes her long-awaited return to the Octagon in July when she meets Amanda Ribas in the main card opening bout at UFC 251. This will be the last fight on VanZant’s UFC contract and she is expected to field offers from other promotions after the bout, so getting a win as a big underdog would be huge for her stock.
Gilbert Burns details recent gym encounter with Kamaru Usman: "It was a bit weird"
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
Gilbert Burns is set to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 251. The pair are not only the two best welterweights on earth, but long-time teammates. Both Usman and Burns have both spent their recent careers training at Sanford MMA in South Florida, under the tutelage of Henri Hooft. Ahead of the matchup, Usman will relocate to Denver, Colorado to train under Trevor Wittman, the man behind Justin Gaethje, Rose Namajunas, and others.
Petr Yan to Sean O'Malley: stick your long arms "right into your a**hole"
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
Josh Emmett discusses fighting with injured leg: "I can’t even describe the pain"
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
Josh Emmett picked up a big unanimous decision win over Shane Burgos in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 11 last weekend, but it came at a cost. Emmett sustained a litany of serious injuries in the fight, including a severe leg injury in the early moments of the opening round.
UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski to publish children's book
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2020
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to release a children’s book. Volkanovski announced his book in an interview with 7 News Australia. The book, which will apparently be about his life as a world champion, is targeted for release ahead of his July 11 title fight with Max Holloway.