MMA News

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

UFC middleweight Darren Till slid into the direct messages of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, sending the champ a fierce warning. Adesanya and Till are known to exchange DM’s with each other, and now Till has taken his DM game to the next level. On Tuesday, the champ shared on his Twitter a video message Till sent him in a DM, with “The Gorilla” making it clear he wants to step into the Octagon with “The Last Stylebender.”

Mike Pendleton - March 24, 2020

As he tries to continue on with putting on events amid the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, UFC President Dana White is taking the virus seriously. During a recent interview with Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, White made a startling comparison, comparing COVID-19 to cancer. Fatalist Dana White to @KevinI: "Whether you're a coronavirus expert or not, it's like hiding from cancer. You can't hide from this thing. If you are a high-risk person, this thing's going to get you."

Cole Shelton - March 24, 2020

Renato Moicano isn’t pleased with the way he handled himself following his win at UFC Brasilia. Moicano was moving up to lightweight after back-to-back losses and quickly submitted Damir Hazdovic in under a minute. Following the win, you could hear the Brazilain complaining on the broadcast as he wanted to fight longer given he was at home and wanted to really see how his body would do at lightweight.

Mike Pendleton - March 24, 2020

Francis Ngannou entered the UFC in 2015 just five fights into his professional career, and skyrocketed throughout the division due to his performances inside the Octagon. In just over two years upon entering the UFC, Ngannou would go on a six-fight winning streak which would lead him to get a title shot against Stipe Miocic. Although he would come up short in his attempt at UFC gold, Francis Ngannou showed he could still hang with the very best heavyweights in the world. Following his fight against Miocic, Ngannou would drop his second consecutive fight in a lackluster showing against Derrick Lewis, and then change followed shortly thereafter.

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

UFC president Dana White is confident UFC 249 will go on as planned, and a new report says the event could take place in Florida. On Monday, White said that UFC 249 was still a go for April 18 with a lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and top contender Tony Ferguson. White also said that the event will feature a full undercard. White said that he has a home for the event but is not ready to release that to the public. We now have an idea of where that may be.

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal trashed his American Top Team teammate Colby Covington, calling him the “most sensitive guy in UFC history.” Despite being teammates at ATT, Masvidal and Covington have been going back-and-forth at each other for months, but this week the owner of ATT Dan Lambert instituted a no trash talking policy between fighters of the gym. Masvidal, though, believes that he didn’t break the rule because he doesn’t consider Covington a fighter.

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

The sportsbooks have released the full card betting odds for UFC 249 after UFC president Dana White confirmed the event will still go on. White said on Monday to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! that the UFC will still hold UFC 249, which includes a main event featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson for the UFC lightweight title. The event was originally set for Brooklyn, New York, but will be moved due to the coronavirus outbreak. The UFC president also confirmed it will be a full card and that the promotion knows where the card will take place, though he can’t announce it yet.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

Hand sanitizer is currently in short supply. UFC heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou is here to help. Speaking on Instagram on Tuesday, Ngannou announced that he’s teamed up with a some business partners to begin producing and selling “affordable hand sanitizer.”

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes hasn’t fought since he settled his long-standing rivalry with Kevin Belingon back in October. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to tighten its grip on the world, it’s increasingly unclear when he will be able to fight again. Ever the picture of composure, Fernandes is keeping his cool in the face of this uncertainty.

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

UFC women’s strawweight contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk fired back at Colby Covington, calling the welterweight a “big liar” for the things he’s said about her. Jedrzejczyk has not been a fan of the way Covington has conducted himself at American Top Team, as he’s feuded with his teammates such as Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal. Covington has also gone after Jedrzejczyk, calling her “washed up” among other things.

Adam Martin - March 24, 2020

The postponed main event for UFC London between welterweights Tyron Woodley and Leon Edwards will be rescheduled according to UFC president Dana White. There was speculation the UFC could scrap the Woodley vs. Edwards fight and instead book Woodley against rival Colby Covington. Not so, says White. Woodley vs. Edwards is on, as are all the other fights from UFC London, UFC Columbus and UFC Portland that have been postponed. White says all those fights will happen at a later date.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

Otto Wallin, a former opponent of boxing heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, believes he’s caught COVID-19. Wallin made this announcement during an interview with TMZ. He explained that his mother recently visited him in New York City, and that she began to feel ill after returning home to Sweden. Her boyfriend also fell ill, and later tested positive for COVID-19.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

Conor McGregor has sent an impassioned message to Ireland’s leaders as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the Emerald Isle and further afield. https://www.facebook.com/thenotoriousmma/videos/355023115382945/

Natasha Hooper - March 24, 2020

UFC flyweight Paige VanZant is ready to return to the Octagon. On Monday, “12 Gauge” removed her arm cast and wants to make the most of her newfound health by fighting as soon as possible. VanZant has been out of action since January, 2019 when she achieved a submission win over Rachael Ostovich in Brooklyn. Despite the victory, her career has been hindered by a recurring fracture in her arm.

Natasha Hooper - March 24, 2020

Surging contender Gilbert Burns has seemingly found his next dancer partner in the Octagon, and that is none other than Michael Chiesa. Both welterweights have shown an interest in fighting and are keen to square off in the main event of a fight card later this year.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

On Monday night, it was reported that top bantamweight contenders Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen will collide at the upcoming UFC San Diego card, tentatively scheduled for May 16. Unfortunately, Sterling has pumped the brakes on this reported matchup.

Tom Taylor - March 24, 2020

UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang still hasn’t returned to her native China after her UFC 248 war with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The champion elected to stay put in Las Vegas for up to a month, not only to avoid potential exposure to the coronavirus, but to simplify the stringent United States Anti-Doping Agency tests she’s subject to as a UFC champ.

Harry Kettle - March 24, 2020

Dr. Lucas Penchel has been handed a two-year suspension from USADA in relation to a violation involving UFC middleweight Paulo Costa and his brother Carlos. Back in April 2019, the Costa brothers had been issued six-month suspensions as a result of IVs that were administered to them by Penchel. While they were permitted substances, but the amount given was over the allowed limit.