MMA News

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

Former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold still hasn’t decided if he’ll fight again, but for the moment, it’s not a priority. “I’m taking a leave of absence,” Rockhold said on the Major Waves Podcast (via MMA Junkie). “I’m just kind of doing my thing right now — getting life organized, getting things together. It’s good to be back on the West Coast. I was training out in Florida and it’s just – Florida’s tough. It’s hot, it’s humid – it’s a different lifestyle.”

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

Chatri Sityodtong is keen to pit some of the best fighters in ONE Championship against the stars of the UFC. Speaking during a live Q&A on Facebook, Sityodtong was asked about potential ONE Championship vs. UFC super fights and quickly suggested a battle between ONE strawweight champ Xiong Jingnan and her countrywoman, UFC strawweight champ Weili Zhang.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

Jon Jones is once again in hot water after being arrested last week. While many members of the MMA community are fed up with the UFC light heavyweight champ’s issues outside the cage, his long-time friend and training partner Michelle Waterson is standing behind him. “I love Jon and I wish the best for him and his family,” Waterson told MMA Junkie. “He’s done nothing but be really supportive of me, my career and my family, and the team.”

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

Joe Rogan tries to keep things pretty professional when he’s working as a UFC commentator, but at the end of the day, he’s a fight fan. So, when something crazy happens in the Octagon, he tends to lose his mind. We’ve seen it countless times over the years, and it never ceases to be entertaining. The UFC recently compiled some of the best Joe Rogan reactions in a video posted to social media. See it below:

Adam Martin - April 3, 2020

UFC women’s flyweight contender Paige VanZant recently provided an update on her upcoming free agency plans, saying she is open to all offers. VanZant has one fight left on her current UFC contract. She was set to fight Amanda Ribas at UFC Brasilia last month but was forced to pull out of the fight after re-breaking her arm. Ribas ended up fighting Randa Markos and putting a beating on her but afterward called for the UFC to re-book the VanZant bout. Whoever VanZant fights next in the Octagon will be the last fight on her current deal, and then she will become a free agent.

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer is willing to work at UFC 249 on April 18 — provided the UFC can find a location for the card and ensure the safety of staff and fighters during the coronavirus pandemic. “I stand on the basis that, if there’s an event announced – based on the location, the safety factor of everybody involved, how we’re being tested, whatever, all the obvious – if there is such a word anymore, a completely safe thing to do, then let’s do it. Right?” Buffer told MMA Junkie. “Obviously there would not be an audience; we know that.”

Tom Taylor - April 3, 2020

UFC commentator Jon Anik says Jon Jones’ latest brush with the law makes him “very sad.” Last week, Jones was arrested for aggravated DWI and negligent use of a firearm. While Jones was able to avoid jail time, this marks the latest incident in a troubling trend for the UFC light heavyweight champ.

Harry Kettle - April 3, 2020

Ben Askren has taken yet another shot at UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman – doing so through his Twitter account. There are very few people that seem to be capable of getting under the skin of “The Nigerian Nightmare”, but it certainly appears as if “Funky” is one of them, even months after his retirement from mixed martial arts.

Natasha Hooper - April 3, 2020

Jorge Masvidal may have found a new friend in his former foe, Ben Askren. On Twitter, the “BMF” winner asked his former opponent to join his “creative department”, to which “Funky” responded. In recent months, Masvidal has been targetting the welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The fighters are expected to collide in the Octagon soon. For the meantime, “Gamebred” has used his time to mock the champion and even accuse him of having “multiple personalities”. This week, he posted a video of Usman that shows “The Nigerian Nightmare” contradicting himself and previously praising the BMF champion.

Harry Kettle - April 3, 2020

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has canceled all combat sports events for the month of May, creating yet another dilemma for UFC. While the majority of promotions have already canceled or postponed some of their events across the next few months, the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to try and push on – despite the overwhelming evidence being that they shouldn’t.

Mike Pendleton - April 2, 2020

On Thursday night UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov finally addressed his recent statement regarding his availability for UFC 249. In an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN, Nurmagomedov said he never officially pulled out of the title fight against Tony Ferguson, he said he needs a location before any decision can be made about the fight. Originally set to take place in Brooklyn, UFC 249 is still looking for a home as worldwide restrictions on large-event gathers due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult for the UFC to find a home for the PPV event.

Cole Shelton - April 2, 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe he should be stripped of his belt after withdrawing from UFC 249. The undefeated lightweight champion did an Instagram Live where he said is stuck in Russia and UFC 249 would most likely go on without him. Following that, Ferguson called for Nurmagomedov to be stripped. For the lightweight champ, he says that proves “El Cucuy” is a stupid guy.

Chris Taylor - April 2, 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov is still willing to leave Russia for a fight with Tony Ferguson on April 18, but he needs Dana White to give him some answers. The promotions undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib, had hinted on Wednesday that he would be unable to participate at UFC 249 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Adam Martin - April 2, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson is gunning for matchups against Colby Covington and Leon Edwards when the MMA schedule resumes. Thompson is currently the No. 5 ranked welterweight on the UFC roster. In his last fight, he defeated Vicente Luque via unanimous decision to jump back into the winner’s circle after back-to-back losses to Darren Till and Anthony Pettis. Now that he’s back on track, Thompson is gunning for two fighters ranked above him in Covington and Edwards.

Cole Shelton - April 2, 2020

UFC president Dana White says everyone knew Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t going to fight at UFC 249. Earlier this week, Nurmagomedov announced he was stuck in Russia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then took to social media again to say he would indeed be off the card which Tony Ferguson was not happy about. He called for the champ to be stripped of his belt and said the undefeated Dagestani champion was scared of him.

Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov has spent quite a bit of time broadcasting on Instagram Live over the last 24 hours, primarily explaining why he will not be fighting Tony Ferguson at UFC 249. One of his recent sessions was nearly commandeered by his arch rival Conor McGregor. See the moment that McGregor attempted to goad Nurmagomedov into bringing him into the broadcast below (h/t RT Sport):

Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020

Kamaru Usman feels that the people who are pushing for MMA fights in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic don’t care about the lives of fighters. Usman, the UFC welterweight champ, made this remark during an Instagram Live session from UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, with whom he shares a manager.

Tom Taylor - April 2, 2020

UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be leaving his native Russia to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18. Since Nurmagomedov announced this decision, many members of the MMA community — including Ferguson and Conor McGregor — have accused him of bailing on the fight.