MMA News
Leon Edwards was considered for title shot against Kamaru Usman before Gilbert Burns
Adam Martin - June 9, 2020
The UFC reportedly called Leon Edwards up to see if he would fight UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman before giving the shot to Gilbert Burns. Jorge Masvidal was widely expected to be next in line to fight Usman for the belt but he is currently involved in a public contract dispute with the UFC. Masvidal believes he should get a new contract to fight for the belt but the UFC is not budging on it. When the UFC couldn’t come to terms with Masvidal, they reached out to Burns instead and offered him the title shot at UFC 251. But according to a new report, the UFC called Edwards first.
Nate Diaz trashes Usman vs. Burns booking: "This isn’t a title fight"
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Nate Diaz isn’t a fan of the newly announced welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Diaz’s gripes with the matchup seem to stem from the fact that Burns, who now holds the No. 1 spot in the UFC rankings, was only given the opportunity to fight Usman for the title when Jorge Masvial began butting heads with the promotion.
Dana White fires back at Conor McGregor, accuses him of turning down short-notice fight
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
UFC President Dana White has sent some return fire in the direction of newly retired two-division champion Conor McGregor. McGregor surprised fight fans the world over when he announced his retirement last Saturday night. Shortly after announcing his retirement on social media, he gave a few quotes to ESPN, explaining that he simply doesn’t see any reason to continue fighting right now, as there are no opportunities that excite him.
Daniel Cormier reacts to Stipe Miocic trilogy fight booking
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier has shared his initial thoughts on his August 15 trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic, which was just made official. Cormier shared his thoughts on the matchup on Twitter, shortly it was announced that contracts had been signed.
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier trilogy fight official for August 15
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
A heavyweight title rematch between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Daniel Cormier is official for August 15, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Given that both men are American, we can expect this fight to occur on US soil, rather than on the UFC’s much discussed Fight Island.
Dana White confirms location of UFC Fight Island, drops dates for first four cards
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
It’s official. As the rumors have suggested for weeks, Dana White’s much-discussed UFC Fight Island is none other than Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Speaking on social media on Tuesday, White confirmed the setting of Fight Island. He also dropped the dates of the first four events to go down on Fight Island: July 11, 15, 18 and 25.
Dana White says UFC is interested in Kayla Harrison
Adam Martin - June 9, 2020
UFC president Dana White says the world’s top MMA organization is interested in signing PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison. The UFC is always looking for new challengers for women’s double champion Amanda Nunes. After she just beat down Felicia Spencer for five rounds in the main event of UFC 250, it’s becoming harder to envision anyone on the UFC roster finding a way to beat her. It’s possible that the person who gives Nunes the best fight is someone who isn’t even in the UFC right now. Cue Harrison.
Michael Bisping shares his thoughts on Conor McGregor’s retirement announcement
Natasha Hooper - June 9, 2020
Michael Bisping has responded to Conor McGregor’s retirement announcement. Last week, the Irish star announced on Twitter his retirement from MMA. This marks the third time McGregor has announced his retirement in four years. He announced his exit after saying he is tired of the fighting game and no longer finds exciting matchups.
UFC 250 medical suspensions: Nunes, Spencer facing six-month sits
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2020
The medical suspensions for UFC 250 are in, and as is usually the case for a card with so much action, many fighters are facing long sits. Felicia Spencer, who was brutalized by UFC featherweight champ Amanda Nunes in the card’s main event, is facing six months out. Nunes, despite the lopsided nature of her win, is facing a similar layoff—though she intends to take some time off anyway.
Daniel Cormier says the UFC must find a way to “make it work” with Conor McGregor
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2020
UFC star Daniel Cormier believes that the promotion needs to find a way to make it work with the now retired Conor McGregor. Cormier, who is rumored to be fighting Stipe Miocic later this year in the third fight of their heavyweight trilogy, has always been a big fan of McGregor’s work – although, as we all know, “DC” is also close friends with Conor’s biggest rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Top middleweight contender Paulo Costa takes aim at Jon Jones
Natasha Hooper - June 9, 2020
Jon Jones has found another adversary in the form of middleweight contender Paulo Costa. As of recent, Costa has been calling out UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. He called their rivalry much bigger than that of Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and is ready to erase him in a title fight. Adesanya responded by promising to ‘punish’ Costa in a matchup. The middleweight champion also accused Costa of being a “juiced-up monkey.”
Jon Jones delivers important message in wake of tragedy-ridden 2020
Chris Taylor - June 8, 2020
UFC Star Jon Jones has delivered an important message in wake of what has been a terrible beginning to the 2020 year. The longtime UFC light heavyweight kingpin, who recently requested his release from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, took to Twitter with the following important message for families and everyone in society to consider.
Daniel Cormier says he will corner Dana White in potential Dan Le Batard fight
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2020
Daniel Cormier is backing his boss, Dana White. Recently, UFC president Dana White and ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard have traded shots at one another over a potential charity boxing match. The UFC boss pledged $250 thousand for the fight and now Cormier is ready to train and corner him.
What's next for Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer after UFC 250?
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2020
In the main event of UFC 250, Amanda Nunes was looking to defend her featherweight title for the first time when she battled Felicia Spencer. It was the first time Nunes was going back up to 145-pounds since her upset win over Cris Cyborg at UFC 232. For Spencer, it was her first time fighting for UFC gold. this following a 2-1 record with the promotion.
Sean O'Malley claims he would KO Cody Garbrandt, but believes there's "no way" the former champ accepts the fight
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2020
Sean O’Malley is confident he would knockout Cody Garbrandt if they squared off in the Octagon. O’Malley and Garbrandt are both coming off stellar knockout wins at UFC 250. ‘Sugar’ tweeted “decent” following Garbrandt’s win, insinuating that he was not all that impressed by the KO.
Holly Holm vs. Irene Aldana headlines UFC Fight Night on August 1
Adam Martin - June 8, 2020
An intriguing matchup between women’s bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Irene Aldana is set to headline a UFC Fight Night event on August 1. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported words of the Holm vs. Aldana matchup. It’s expected to be the five-round headliner at a Fight Night card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dana White uninterested in Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3, but likes Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang
Adam Martin - June 8, 2020
UFC president Dana White says he is uninterested in a trilogy fight between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko but says he likes Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang. Nunes defeated Felicia Spencer via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 250 this past weekend to improve her win streak to 11 straight fights. She is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in women’s MMA history and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Naturally, the question has to be asked what’s next for her given that she has dominated everyone who she has fought thus far.
Various Conor McGregor prop bets released
Adam Martin - June 8, 2020
The sportsbooks are offering odds on various prop bets related to the future of UFC superstar Conor McGregor inside the Octagon. McGregor revealed following UFC 250 this past weekend that he plans on hanging up his gloves and retiring from mixed martial arts. He later spoke about his surprising retirement announcement, attributing it to boredom and a lack of fighting opportunities right now. Still, some are skeptical that McGregor’s retirement will stick, as this isn’t the first time he has announced his intention to hang up his gloves only to fight again another day.