MMA News
Daniel Cormier explains why Stipe Miocic loss is harder to swallow than Jon Jones loss
Harry Kettle - May 5, 2020
UFC star Daniel Cormier has revealed why his defeat to Stipe Miocic was harder to swallow than his two losses to Jon Jones. Cormier shocked the world back at UFC 226 when he knocked Miocic out in the first round to capture the UFC Heavyweight Championship. However, just over a year later, he went from hero to zero after losing the belt in a rematch with Miocic at UFC 241.
Justin Gaethje believes he will knock Tony Ferguson "out cold" at UFC 249
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2020
Justin Gaethje believes he will knock out Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 249 to win the UFC’s interim lightweight title. Gaethje originally stepped up on short notice to fight Ferguson on April 18 for the interim belt. But, the event was postponed and he will now get the fight with basically a full training camp under his belt. So, for “The Highlight” that gives him full confidence that he will ultimately knock Ferguson out.
UFC 251 officially postponed
Adam Martin - May 4, 2020
Alexander Volkanovski will have to wait a while to defend his belt in Australia as the upcoming UFC 251 pay-per-view event has been officially postponed. The UFC men’s featherweight champion Volkanovski was being targeted for a title defense against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 251, which was set for June 6 at Perth Arena in Perth, Australia. Instead of having his first title defense come in his home country, Volkanovski won’t get that opportunity anymore as UFC 251 has been officially postponed.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik plans to KO Francis Ngannou in "one of the best fights of 2020"
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2020
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is expecting to continue his knockout streak on Saturday night when he takes on Francis Ngannou at UFC 249. Rozenstruik and Ngannou were expected to headline UFC Columbus and then fight on April 18, but those events were canceled. Now, for Rozenstruik, he finally gets his wish of fighting Ngannou on May 9.
'The Mountain' Thor Bjornsson to make combat sports debut opposite former World's Strongest Man in 2021
Christopher Taylor - May 4, 2020
Thor Bjornsson, also known as “The Mountain” on HBO’s hit series “Game of Thrones”, will make his combat sports debut in September of 2021. Bjornsson recently set a world record for deadlifting 1,104.54 pounds at his gym in Iceland. The mark broke the record which was previously held by former World’s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall.
Daniel Cormier sends a message to Stipe Miocic: "Hurry up and sign the contract"
Mike Pendleton - May 4, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is eager to get his trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic. Cormier defeated Miocic back in 2018 at UFC 226 to become a two-weight world champion, holding both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles at the time of his astonishing first-round knockout of Miocic. The two would eventually rematch in August of 2019 at UFC 241 and this time it would be Miocic who came away victorious, winning back the heavyweight title. With the matchups split between the two, the UFC and both fighters want a trilogy to happen and now “DC” is calling for the champion to hurry up.
Marlon Vera tells UFC Jacksonville haters to "f*ck off"
Adam Martin - May 4, 2020
UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera fired back at the critics of UFC Jacksonville in an interview with CBC Sports, telling haters of the event to “f*ck off.” Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, UFC president Dana White was adamant the show would go on, and he lived up to his promise. Starting this weekend, the UFC will hold four events in Jacksonville: UFC 249 plus three UFC Jacksonville Fight Night cards set to take place over the course of May. Considering the circumstances, the events are under intense scrutiny from a certain section of fans and the media who are worried about the potential spread of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, the show will go on for the UFC.
Donald Cerrone reflects on first Anthony Pettis fight: “He kicked my liver out of my body”
Natasha Hooper - May 4, 2020
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has an opportunity to avenge a loss in a rematch against Anthony Pettis at UFC 249. In recent fights, the UFC veteran has suffered three back-to-back TKOs against Conor McGregor, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. However, his first knockout loss came from Pettis. The former lightweight champion body kicked his way to victory in the first round of their 2013 bout. Now, the pair will get the chance to run it back on the revised UFC 249 card on May 9. Cerrone intends on getting back to winning form (without suffering a body kick in the process).
Oscar De La Hoya makes prediction for potential boxing match with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020
Even at 47 years old, Oscar De La Hoya likes his chances in a potential boxing match with Conor McGregor. Speaking on CBS Sports’ State of Combat podcast recently, De La Hoya was asked about a potential fight with the McGregor. Despite his age, and the fact that he hasn’t fought since a 2008 loss to Manny Pacquiao, he’s still confident he’d beat the brakes of the Irish MMA star.
Full betting odds released for UFC 249
Adam Martin - May 4, 2020
The sportsbooks have released the full slate of betting odds for this weekend’s UFC 249 event, including the main event of Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje. UFC 249 was originally set to take place on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York, and later at Tachi Palace in Leemore, California. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both of those previous versions of the card were canceled. But UFC president Dana White remained adamant all along that the show would go on, and when the state of Florida declared sports an essential business, it allowed the UFC the opportunity to hold its events there.
UFC Kazakhstan canceled, Petr Yan and Marlon Moraes now in limbo
Adam Martin - May 4, 2020
The upcoming UFC Kazakhstan card in June has been canceled, leaving main event bantamweights Petr Yan and Marlon Moraes in limbo. UFC Fight Night 177 was set to take place on June 13 at Astana Arena in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The card was set to be headlined by Yan and Moraes, but according to a report from MMAFighting.com, the event had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means that Yan and Moraes will now have to be rescheduled to another card.
Justin Gaethje: “I don’t think I would have taken the fight against Khabib on short notice"
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020
Justin Gaethje is days out from a short-notice interim lightweight title fight with Tony Ferguson, but he says he might not have accepted a short-notice fight with Ferguson’s originally scheduled foe, undisputed lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ferguson was originally expected to fight Nurmagomedov on April 18, but when Nurmagomedov got stranded in Russia, Ferguson was booked for a short-notice fight with Gaethje. The April 18 card was subsequently canceled, and Ferguson and Gaethje were rebooked for a fight on May 9.
Israel Adesanya explains why he's a bad matchup for "washed up" Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020
UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya has made no secret of the fact that he intends to move up to the light heavyweight division to battle Jon Jones in the future. Speaking on the latest episode of BJPENN.COM Radio, Adesanya explained why he’s so confident he’d win this potential matchup.
PHOTO | Paulo Costa is as jacked as ever during coronavirus pandemic
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020
The gym closures and social distancing measures associated with the coronavirus pandemic have not stopped UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa from maintaining his physique. The Brazilian middleweight, who is expected to get the next crack at the division’s reigning champion Israel Adesanya, is looking as monstrous as ever, despite the challenges created by the pandemic.
VIDEO | Conor McGregor dominates boxing champ in MMA sparring session
Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020
Back in 2013, ahead of his fight with Max Holloway, Conor McGregor stepped into the cage for an MMA sparring session with former WBC featherweight champ Patrick Hyland. Suffice it to say it did not go well for the boxer. See the pair’s lopsided training session below:
Jon Jones shares some advice for new pro athletes
Natasha Hooper - May 4, 2020
Jon Jones has shared some advice for young athletes. The UFC light heavyweight champion has had an interesting 2020 so far. His closely contested bout against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February left many spectators believing his opponent should have won the division’s crown. His recent DWI arrest earlier this year in his hometown also raised eyebrows.
TJ Dillashaw gives prediction for Dominick Cruz vs. Henry Cejudo title fight at UFC 249
Natasha Hooper - May 4, 2020
TJ Dillashaw has predicted the outcome of the bantamweight title fight between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. The former bantamweight champion has been out of action since his anti-doping violation in 2019, but that hasn’t stopped the fighter from giving his two cents on the current 135-pound division.
Oscar De La Hoya commends UFC President Dana White for “phenomenal job” during pandemic
Harry Kettle - May 4, 2020
Boxing promoter and former champion Oscar De La Hoya has praised former rival Dana White for his handling of the UFC during the pandemic. De La Hoya and White have been embroiled in a bitter feud for quite some time now, to the point where there was even talk that they could settle the score in the boxing ring. Alas, it appears as if the passing of time is starting to heal the wounds.