MMA News
ONE Championship makes successful return with back-to-back events in China
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2020
Singapore-based martial arts organization ONE Championship made a successful return over the weekend, promoting a pair of ONE Hero Series events in Shanghai, China. The bouts aired on ByteDance’s Toutiao/Xigua video platform, as well as on Douyin. Qinghai TV and Shenzhen TV5 will also air a delayed broadcast.
Geoff Neal frustrated by long UFC layoff, back serving at Texas Steakhouse: "It's bullsh*t, I need to get paid"
Adam Martin - June 23, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Geoff Neal said he’s frustrated with his long layoff and admitted that he went back to his second job as a server to make money. Neal is currently the No. 11 welterweight in the UFC rankings but he is having major troubles getting another fight lined up. Despite being a perfect 5-0 in the UFC and coming off of a huge TKO win over Mike Perry at UFC 245 last December, Neal told James Lynch of theScore that no one wants to fight him because he is such a dangerous fighter yet ranked in the bottom half of the top-15.
Full betting odds released for UFC on ESPN 12: Poirier vs. Hooker
Adam Martin - June 23, 2020
The full betting odds have been released for Saturday night’s UFC on ESPN 12, featuring a main event between lightweights Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. The five-round main event sees Poirier look to bounce back after his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, while Hooker will look to add to his three-fight win streak after defeating Paul Felder in his last outing. In the co-main event, a pair of fan-favorite welterweights go at it as the striker Mike Perry takes on the grappler Mickey Gall.
UFC light heavyweight Gokhan Saki provides update after two-year absence
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2020
Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki, a member of the UFC light heavyweight division, has provided an update for his fans after close to two years away from competition. Saki has not been in action since a shocking knockout loss to Khalil Rountree in July of 2018. Speaking on Instagram on Tuesday, the Turkish knockout artist provided an update for his followers, explaining that he recently underwent the first of two surgeries to repair injured elbows.
Daniel Cormier intends to emulate Curtis Blaydes in Miocic trilogy fight
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2020
Daniel Cormier says he intends to emulate the gameplan Curtis Blaydes used against Alexander Volkov when he rematches Stipe Miocic on August 15. Blaydes took on Volkov in the main event of UFC on ESPN 11 last weekend, winning a clear-cut unanimous decision with a gameplan based on relentless takedowns and top control.
Dan Hooker: If I beat Dustin Poirier "there's only three fights" that make sense
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2020
If Dan Hooker defeats Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12 this weekend, he believes there’s only three opponents that make sense for his next fight. Hooker feels that a win over Poirier should earn him a lightweight title shot, which would mean a fight with the winner of the upcoming title unification bout between undisputed champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje.
Josh Emmett issues statement on injuries sustained in war with Shane Burgos
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2020
Josh Emmett picked up an important victory and a $50,000 bonus check at UFC on ESPN 11 last Saturday, but it came at a cost. Emmett met fellow top-10 featherweight contender Shane Burgos in the card’s co-main event. The pair battled tooth and nail for three wild rounds, with Emmett ultimately capturing a unanimous decision victory. Both men earned bonuses for the fight, which instantly stood out as a 2020 Fight of the Year contender.
Khabib Nurmagomedov provides update on Father’s health: “The coronavirus is gone, but the infection has left consequences”
Natasha Hooper - June 23, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov still isn’t out of the woods when it comes to his ongoing health battle. The father and trainer of the UFC lightweight champion was hospitalized in April following complications relating to coronavirus. He was put into a medically induced coma after suffering a bout of pneumonia. In May, he underwent heart surgery at a military hospital in Moscow. Some reports suggested Nurmagomedov Sr. was on life support for a period.
Joe Rogan reflects on 18 years as UFC commentator: "I've had some pretty f*cking cool jobs in my life"
Christopher Taylor - June 22, 2020
Today marked the eighteen year anniversary of Joe Rogan’s first ever commentary gig with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rogan made his debut with the promotion at UFC 37.5 on June 22, 2002. That night Chuck Liddell defeated fellow mixed martial arts legend Vitor Belfort by unanimous decision in the event headliner.
From a fishermen's village to viral sensation: The story of Reug Reug
Alfredo Zullino - June 22, 2020
There’s a small, little fishermen’s village in West Africa, called Thiaroye-Sur-Mer, Thiaroye by the sea. Situated on the southeast coast of Cape Verde, in the suburbs of Dakar, this Senegalese town totals just more than 35,000 inhabitants. Most of the people there try to make a living by fishing, but there is another activity you can pursue in Senegal. You can wrestle.
Anthony Smith slams Max Rohskopf’s corner: “Get him the f**k out of there”
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2020
Anthony Smith is not a fan of the way Robert Drysdale reacted after Max Rohskopf asked him to stop the bout following the second round of his fight against Austin Hubbard. Rohskopf was making his UFC debut on short notice and after the second round told his coach to end the fight nine times. Nine times. Yet, his corner didn’t do that. The referee and someone from the Nevada State Athletic Commission overheard him asking for it to be stopped and they ended up stepping in.
Josh Emmett suffered numerous injuries in fight with Shane Burgos including a torn ACL
Mike Pendleton - June 22, 2020
This past weekend Josh Emmett picked up another big win to his resume, but he’s now going to be out of action for some time. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, MRI test results have revealed that in his victory over Shane Burgos, Emmett suffered multiple knee injuries, including a complete tear of his ACL. UFC featherweight Josh Emmett (@JoshEmmettUFC) suffered a "complete ACL tear" in his Fight of Night victory over Shane Burgos on Saturday.
What's next for Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov after UFC on ESPN 11?
Cole Shelton - June 22, 2020
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 11, Curtis Blaydes was looking to extend his winning streak against a perennial top-10 contender, Alexander Volkov. It was a very intriguing matchup and “Razor” had even said his plan was to ragdoll the Russian with wrestling to get his hand raised. That is pretty much what happened on Saturday night, as Blaydes set a new record for most takedowns at heavyweight and dominated the scrap to earn a clear-cut unanimous decision win.
Jim Miller open to fights at 170lbs and 185lbs
Adam Martin - June 22, 2020
Veteran UFC lightweight Jim Miller says he would consider moving up to welterweight and even to middleweight for future fights in the Octagon. The long-time veteran of the sport defeated prospect Roosevelt Roberts via first-round armbar at this past weekend’s UFC on ESPN 11 in what was a 160lbs catchweight fight. Despite being a hefty betting underdog heading into the bout against a larger, younger opponent, Miller pulled off the stunning upset, winning $50,000 extra for “Performance of the Night” in what was his 35th fight in the Octagon, tying Donald Cerrone for the most UFC fights in the process.
Report | Dana White's Contender Series slated to return in August
Mike Pendleton - June 22, 2020
After being put on hold due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, Dana White’s Contender Series is officially preparing for the 2020 season. As first reported by Nolan King of MMA Junkie, the Contender Series show is slated to have their first event on August 4 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. This will be the fourth season of Contender Series, and it will have events take place on Tuesday, although the promotion has not made an official announcement just yet. Although a schedule is not yet known, MMA Fighting had their own report on Contender Series, stating it would likely run through early October if they follow the same schedule as they have in their previous seasons.
Dan Hooker responds to Justin Gaethje predicting Dustin Poirier victory
Mike Pendleton - June 22, 2020
This weekend’s main event will be a big matchup between highly-ranked lightweights Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker, and neither of them are underestimating the other. Recently, UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje predicted that Poirier will “merk” Hooker in their fight, and now “The Hangman” has responded.
Dana White says Anthony Johnson 'sort of disappeared' following initial return plans
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 22, 2020
If you’re looking forward to the return of Anthony Johnson, Dana White’s update isn’t so encouraging. Back in the summer of 2019, it was revealed that “Rumble” planned to make a comeback in the UFC heavyweight division. “Rumble” was shooting for a date in March but we’re now in mid-2020 and Johnson still hasn’t stepped back inside the Octagon.
UFC on ESPN 12: Poirier vs. Hooker official fight card
Tom Taylor - June 22, 2020
This Saturday, the UFC will return to our screens for the fourth consecutive week in a row with the under-the-radar UFC on ESPN 12 card at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. UFC on ESPN 12 will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between top-10 contenders Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier. For Hooker, this bout will mark an opportunity to build on the momentum of three straight victories: a knockout of James Vick, and a pair of decision triumphs over Al Iaquinta and Paul Felder.