MMA News
Patricio Pitbull trashes UFC for continuing with events during coronavirus pandemic: "It seems inhuman"
Adam Martin - April 22, 2020
Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull trashed the UFC for continuing to try and hold events during the coronavirus pandemic. UFC president Dana White has been adamant for the last month that the UFC show would go on despite the coronavirus pandemic essentially shutting down all major sports leagues across the world. White tried his best for UFC 249 to take place on April 18 on Indian reservation land in California, but the event was ultimately postponed. The plan is now to hold UFC 249 on May 9 in Florida, and Pitbull doesn’t agree with it.
Angela Lee eyeing Denise Zamboanga, Xiong Jingnan bouts when pandemic subsides
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2020
ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee, like many other fighters, is currently playing a bit of a waiting game. While she was recently linked to a title defense opposite the undefeated Denise Zamboanga, that plan was put on ice when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. “Everything is up in the air,” Lee told BJPENN.com from her home in Hawaii. “I’m definitely still training with Denise in mind, but anything can happen.
Lyman Good already in talks about UFC return after beating coronavirus
Adam Martin - April 22, 2020
UFC welterweight Lyman Good says he’s already in talks with the promotion’s matchmakers about a return to the Octagon after recently beating coronavirus. Good became the first UFC fighter to publicly confirm he caught the coronavirus, joining other MMA fighters like Erick Silva and Roger Gracie among those who have confirmed they have had the virus. Like Silva and Gracie, Good had a rough go of the virus, but like Silva and Gracie, he has beaten the coronavirus and has now tested negative for it.
PFL reportedly cuts "roughly a third" of its roster amid pandemic
Adam Martin - April 22, 2020
The PFL has cut a third of its roster amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the day after announcing its 2020 season was postponed. PFL announced through a press release on Monday that its 2020 season has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus crisis. The promotion felt that it wasn’t the right time to go ahead with its third season and instead is shifting its entire calendar a year back. PFL season three is expected to commence in the spring of 2021.
Israel Adesanya trashes "Catholic school girl" Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2020
It’s no secret that UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya is not a fan of the promotion’s light heavyweight champ, Jon Jones. During a recent appearance on The Luke Thomas Show, Adesanya once again let loose on his light heavyweight rival. This time around, Adesanya accused Jones of being fake: acting one way on camera, and another when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Tyron Woodley and Israel Adesanya continue to trade barbs, Dan Hooker chimes in
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2020
The ongoing feud between UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and former welterweight champ Tyron Woodley isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The pair first got heated when Woodley suggested he was interested in moving up to middleweight to fight Adesanya. Adesanya then responded, and they’ve been going back-and-forth ever since.
Daniel Cormier praises Tony Ferguson for weighing in for canceled fight: Khabib "wouldn't do that"
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2020
Tony Ferguson’s scheduled April 18 interim lightweight title fight with Justin Gaethje didn’t end up happening, but the top lightweight contender weighed in at 155 pounds the Friday before anyway. Former two-division UFC champ Daniel Cormier found Ferguson’s display of toughness and professionalism very impressive.
Frank Trigg: "There's no way" to make fights safe during pandemic
Tom Taylor - April 22, 2020
Former UFC star and current MMA referee Frank Trigg doesn’t think there’s any way for fights to be promoted safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Trigg weighed in on the topic in a recent interview with MMA Junkie Radio.
Jan Blachowicz clarifies on the “can’t wait to fist you” Tweet he sent Jon Jones
Natasha Hooper - April 22, 2020
Jan Blachowicz has clarified his “can’t wait to fist you” comment directed at Jon Jones. Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion last fought Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. The closely contested bout went in favor of “Bones,” however, many spectators believed Reyes should have claimed the split decision victory. Both Reyes and Dana White have suggested an immediate rematch, but the champion has other plans.
Tyron Woodley throws shade at the UFC for protecting their “boogieman”
Harry Kettle - April 22, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Tyron Woodley has thrown shade at the promotion for protecting their “boogieman” Robbie Lawler. Way back at UFC 201, Woodley finally made his way to the top of the division when he knocked Lawler out to win the UFC Welterweight Championship. He held the title for almost three years before dropping it to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 in a one-sided fight.
UFC targeting Volkan Oezdemir vs. Jiri Prochazka matchup
Adam Martin - April 21, 2020
The UFC is targeting a light heavyweight matchup between Volkan Oezdemir and Jiri Prochazka though the coronavirus pandemic means there is no date just yet. Speaking to MMAjunkie.com, Oezdemir said the UFC offered him a fight against Prochazka for the Dublin card in August. However, the coronavirus pandemic means the fight is up in the air at the moment, though Oezdemir still expects the fight to get booked eventually.
Corey Anderson publicly apologizes to Jon Jones for questioning his religious beliefs
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2020
Corey Anderson has issued a public apology to Jon Jones for attacking him online about his religious beliefs. Anderson and Jones have had a history where the two have trash-talked one another and a fight seemed likely. Yet, “Overtime” would go on to lose to Jan Blachowicz leaving that scrap questionable to ever happen.
Who has the best chance to end Jon Jones' reign?
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2020
For many, Jon Jones is the greatest fighter of all-time. He became the youngest UFC champion when he defeated Shogun Rua and has never lost his belt inside the Octagon. But, he has been stripped of his title in the past due to legal issues and USADA violations. Since returning at UFC 232 to reclaim his light heavyweight title, Jones has been active. He has defended his belt against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes. Yet, in his last two fights, he narrowly won both fights, as he edged out split decisions. Many have said it is only a matter of time until “Bones” loses at light heavyweight. So, who has the best chance of being the one to finally beat Jon Jones?
Daniel Cormier says he's fine with having retirement fight with no fans in attendance
Cole Shelton - April 21, 2020
Daniel Cormier wouldn’t be upset if his retirement fight has no fans in attendance. Cormier is expected to have the trilogy with Stipe Miocic later this year for the heavyweight belt. Yet, many wondered if it would happen given the fact “DC” said if the pandemic lasted until the fall he’d retire.
Report: UFC 249 headed to Florida on May 9
Mike Pendleton - April 21, 2020
The UFC’s next event is starting to come together and UFC 249 reportedly has found a home. On Tuesday it was reported by ESPN that the promotion would call their next event UFC 249, although the event had previously been postponed and is now happening on the same date that UFC 250 was scheduled. With their event in place, the UFC now reportedly has a home for the fight card to take place.
Tyron Woodley fires back at Israel Adesanya, Leon Edwards intervenes
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
Former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley recently expressed interest in a fight with UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya. Adesanya did not take particularly kindly to this suggestion.
Petr Yan feels UFC is damaging its reputation with Cejudo vs. Cruz fight
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje fight card set for May 9 will be called UFC 249
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
Before the coronavirus pandemic thrust the world into a period of unprecedented chaos, the UFC had two big pay-per-views scheduled for April and May: UFC 249, scheduled for April 18 in Las Vegas, and UFC 250, scheduled for May 9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Both were canceled.
Ray Longo calls Anderson Silva a "f**king whore" after retirement comments
Tom Taylor - April 21, 2020
In a recent interview with the UFC, Anderson Silva divulged that he intended to retire from MMA before his first fight with Chris Weidman. “I want to stop, I want a time for myself, to stay with my family,” Silva claims he told UFC brass at the time. “I have been doing this for years and I’m losing contact with my kids. I’m only training and training, it’s not working for me anymore.”