MMA News
Wanderlei Silva calls out Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort for bare-knuckle fights
Adam Martin - April 21, 2020
MMA legend Wanderlei Silva has called out fellow veterans of the sport Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort for bare-knuckle fights. Silva signed with BKFC last fall but has yet to make his debut with the promotion. At the time of the signing, Silva said he was interested in fighting Belfort. Six months later and Silva still wants to fight Belfort but he’s also interested in fighting Henderson, as well.
Matt Brown wants UFC to re-book Carlos Condit fight
Adam Martin - April 21, 2020
Welterweight veteran Matt Brown says he hopes the UFC can re-book him against Carlos Condit in a fight that MMA fans have wanted to see for years. Brown and Condit have been two of the most violent welterweights for well over a decade. The UFC has attempted to book them against each other twice in the past, first at UFC on FOX 9 in December 2013, and again at UFC on FOX 29 in April 2018. Both times the fight fell through due to injuries Brown suffered in training.
Georges St-Pierre "never enjoyed one second in the Octagon"
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
It’s no secret that former UFC welterweight and middleweight champ Georges St-Pierre had a complicated relationship with his chosen profession. During a recent interview with ESPN, however, St-Pierre turned some heads by admitting that he never enjoyed a single second he spent in the UFC’s Octagon.
Henry Cejudo aims to defend belt against Jose Aldo after Dominick Cruz
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo was originally expected to make the first defense of his title against Jose Aldo at UFC 250. When that card fell through due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, Cejudo was rescheduled for a title fight with former champ Dominick Cruz on May 9. According to his manager Ali Abdelaziz, Cejudo is still hoping to defend his title against Aldo after his fight with Cruz.
Darren Till is missing the "rush of adrenaline" he gets from fighting
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
Darren Till hasn’t fought since November, and from the sounds of it, the British middleweight contender is starting to get the itch. Speaking on his official Instagram account early on Tuesday morning, Till pined for the rush he gets when he’s walking out for a fight.
Marvin Vettori wants rematch with Israel Adesanya: “I’ll beat him again, this time without leaving any doubt”
Harry Kettle - April 21, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori has declared that he wants a rematch with the current champion of the division Israel Adesanya. Vettori went toe to toe with “The Last Stylebender” back in April 2018 at UFC Glendale, and after an incredibly tight fight, Adesanya walked away with a narrow split decision victory.
Mark Hunt still has "way more to offer," eyes fights in Japan
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
46-year-old heavyweight legend Mark Hunt has parted ways with the UFC—and not on friendly terms. While that chapter of his career is over, however, Hunt is excited to continue fighting elsewhere. “I’ll make some money along the way and not have to worry about fighting against the company or the people you work for, just fighting in general,” Hunt told Asian MMA, referencing his falling out with the UFC, which ended with an ugly legal battle. “What I used to love doing. I’m still banging to be honest, I still feel I’m one of the best fighters out there, even at 46 years of age. I feel I have way more to offer, but I’m glad that I don’t have to give it all to the UFC. I can give it somewhere else.
Dana White praises former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover for his COVID-19 heroics in New York
Natasha Hooper - April 21, 2020
Dana White has high praise for the former UFC fighter Phillipe Nover and his coronavirus heroics in New York. Yesterday, Phillipe Nover was cast under the UFC president’s spotlight. The 36-year old fought for the UFC between 2008 until 2017 and is the former Ring of Combat lightweight champion. Since hanging up his gloves, Nover has turned to nursing. He is currently a registered nurse working at a hospital in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. He is part of the rapid response unit which is on the front line treating COVID-19 patients.
Bookies have slashed odds for Conor McGregor to become the next President of Ireland
Harry Kettle - April 21, 2020
The betting odds for UFC star Conor McGregor to become the next President of Ireland have been slashed over the last few weeks. McGregor has spent the last few weeks gaining quite a few plaudits from around the world as a result of his response to the coronavirus pandemic. After putting forward €1 million of his own money to buy medical equipment for hospitals around Ireland, it also appears as if his own nation is coming around to the controversial former champion, too.
Chi Lewis-Parry open to giving Jon Jones life advice despite previous rivalry
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
European light heavyweight prospect Chi Lewis-Parry says he is willing to give Jon Jones life advice despite their previous rivalry. Lewis-Parry is an experienced kickboxer for GLORY and one of the better free agent light heavyweight prospects not in a major organization. Last May, Lewis-Parry got into a shouting contest at an autograph signing by Jones in the UK before security removed him from the situation. He later explained that his beef with Jones dated back to when Lewis-Parry was a member of Daniel Cormier’s training camp before the Jones rematch.
Gilbert Burns roasts “dumbass” Ben Askren on social media
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2020
Gilbert Burns roasted former UFC welterweight Ben Askren on social media earlier today. During the quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Burns has been active on social media tweeting funny videos and memes. One meme he kept on using was a group of men carrying a coffin. Askren posted on social media wondering what it was about and Burns was quick to respond.
Ion Cutelaba denied appeal in controversial TKO loss to Magomed Ankalaev
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Ion Cutelaba had his appeal denied in his controversial TKO loss to Magomedov Ankalaev at UFC Norfolk. Cutelaba protested the stoppage with the Boxing, Martial Arts, and Professional Wrestling Advisory Board in Virginia just days after the controversial stoppage at UFC Norfolk, which many fellow fighters, fans, and media rated as one of the worst stoppages ever in a UFC fight. Cutelaba was absolutely livid with the stoppage and his team promptly appealed it.
UFC cancels four events due to COVID-19 pandemic, May 9 still targeted as return date
Cole Shelton - April 20, 2020
The UFC has officially canceled four events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion also confirmed that the events are canceled and not postponed as they had been saying earlier on. The four events canceled are UFC Nebraska on April 25, UFC Oklahoma City on May 2, UFC 250 on May 9 and UFC San Diego on May 16.
Lyman Good becomes first UFC fighter to test positive for coronavirus
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
UFC welterweight Lyman Good has become the first fighter on the UFC roster to test positive for the coronavirus. Thankfully, he has recovered from it. Good was set to fight Belal Muhammad at UFC 249 before withdrawing from the bout due to injury. However, in a new interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Good admitted that he told the UFC he was injured when, in fact, he had coronavirus.
Amanda Nunes pulls out of May 9 fight with Felicia Spencer, wants a full training camp
Mike Pendleton - April 20, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on combat sports and the UFC’s plans for when they return to action. Current bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes was reportedly set to be part of the UFC’s return card that is scheduled for May 9, where she was to defend her featherweight title against contender Felicia Spencer. As first reported by ESPN, Nunes was going to be a part of a planned supercard by the UFC which featured three title fights including Nunes’ featherweight title. However the plan has now changed for the champion as she told Brian Campbell of CBS Sports that she will not be fighting on May 9, because it’s too soon for her.
Alexander Shlemenko interested in signing with the UFC
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
Former Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko says he is interested in signing with the UFC once the coronavirus pandemic ends. Shlemenko is one of the most accomplished MMA fighters who is not currently part of a large organization. Between 2013 and 2014, Shlemenko was the Bellator middleweight champion and defended his belt three times. He is also a two-time winner of the Bellator middleweight tournament from the Bjorn Rebney days of the company.
Matt Brown suspects he had coronavirus: It was "the sickest I'd ever been in my life"
Tom Taylor - April 20, 2020
UFC welterweight veteran Matt Brown believes he had COVID-19. Brown was expected to take on Miguel Baeza at UFC on ESPN 8, which was scheduled for March 28 but was ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Before this card, he battled a bout of illness which he suspects could have been COVID-19.
PFL postpones 2020 season, fighters to be paid monthly stipend
Adam Martin - April 20, 2020
The PFL announced on Monday that is has officially postponed its entire 2020 schedule and is going to reschedule it to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Professional Fighters League was set to begin its 2020 season in May, with events held monthly for the rest of the year until the finals on New Year’s Eve. Due to the coronavirus crisis, however, the promotion cannot run its third season as scheduled. Instead, it has shifted the entire schedule to 2021.