MMA News
VIDEO | Massive brawl erupts in cage at MMA event in Russia
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
All hell broke loose at an MMA event in Russia last weekend. The trouble occurred at the ACA Young Eagles 12 card in Cherkessk, shortly after a fight between Dzhaddal Alikbekov and Alim Gugov. The fight ended with Alikbekov winning via a controversial submission. Evidently, Gugov’s supporters didn’t agree with the verdict.
Weili Zhang details emotional moment at hospital with Joanna Jedrzejczyk: 'She kept crying for hours'
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang shared details of an emotional moment she had with rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the hospital following UFC 248. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk went toe-to-toe for 25 minutes in the co-main event of UFC 248, producing a banger of a title fight that pundits immediately called an instant classic. Both women landed hundreds of strikes on each other’s faces and bodies in a bloody battle that is already being labeled one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.
PFL announces more free agent signings, including Tom Lawlor
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
PFL has announced more signings for its third season, including a pair of former UFC middleweights in Tom Lawlor and Cezar Ferreira. PFL promised it would sign a number of high-profile fighters for its upcoming season back when it announced Rory MacDonald’s signing and the promotion has stayed true to its word. After recently announcing 10 signings of prominent fighters including former UFC standout Olivier Aubin-Mercier, the promotion has now revealed it has inked Lawlor and Ferreira to exclusive deals.
UFC 249 in jeopardy as New York state bans large public gatherings
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the sporting world. UFC 249 could be one of its next causalities. On Thursday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that gatherings of more than 500 people will be forbidden in the state effective tomorrow (Friday, March 13).
Cody Garbrandt hospitalized, out of Raphael Assuncao fight
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt will have to wait to mount his comeback. On Thursday, Brazilian publication agfight.com broke the news that Garbrandt has been hospitalized with kidney issues and forced out of his UFC Columbus matchup with Raphael Assuncao.
Kevin Lee reacts to Charles Oliveira fight going down behind closed doors
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
When Kevin Lee fights Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC Brasilia this weekend, there will not be any fans in the building. That’s because the UFC has converted the card to a closed-door event to mitigate risk associated with the coronavirus. While this quiet, closed-door event will be an unfamiliar setting for Lee, he doesn’t seem to worried about it.
Khabib Nurmagomedov concedes Henry Cejudo is currently the greatest combat athlete of all time
Natasha Hooper - March 12, 2020
Step aside Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones. UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov says that UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo is currently the greatest combat athlete of all time. The all-access docu-series Anatomy Of A Fighter followed Nurmagomedov as he attended a recent media day for his management company, Dominance MMA. “The Eagle” made this appearance surrounded by MMA stars including Kayla Harrison, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Justin Gaethje.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk praises Weili Zhang: 'She's a very tough b*tch'
Adam Martin - March 12, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk praised her rival Weili Zhang after their war at UFC 248, calling the UFC women’s strawweight champion ‘a very tough b*tch.’ Jedrzejczyk and Zhang fought 25 of the most action-packed minutes you will ever see in an MMA fight in the co-main event of last weekend’s UFC 248. The two slugged it out for five rounds, battering each other’s faces and bodies, with Zhang eventually emerging as the winner by a narrow split decision to keep the belt.
ONE Championship converts multiple cards to closed-door events
Tom Taylor - March 12, 2020
ONE Championship has responded to the growing threat of the coronavirus pandemic by converting all of its cards until May 29 to closed-door events. ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced this news on Facebook on Thursday morning.
The Korean Zombie agrees to fight Brian Ortega following latest apology
Harry Kettle - March 12, 2020
Chan Sung Jung aka The Korean Zombie is ready to proceed with preparations for his expected fight against Brian Ortega following the American’s recent apology. The two men, who were scheduled to fight back at UFC Busan before Ortega had to pull out due to injury, had been going back and forth at one another ever since UFC 248. At the event, “T-City” prompted a physical altercation with Korean Zombie’s friend and translator Jay Park as a result of Ortega believing Park was trying to instigate trash talk between them.
Saturday’s UFC Brasilia card converted to closed-door event
Harry Kettle - March 12, 2020
There will not be any fans in the building for Saturday night’s UFC Brasilia card. On Thursday, Brazilian publication Combate reported that the UFC has converted the card to a closed-door event amid growing concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
Alexander Volkanovski says there is no one else to fight but Max Holloway at featherweight
Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020
Alexander Volkanovski plans on defending his featherweight title in the main event of UFC 251 at home in Australia. Volkanovski won the belt back at UFC 245 with a decision win over Max Holloway. Since then, he had hand surgery but says he will be ready to defend in Australia where he expects to rematch Holloway.
Charles Oliveira wants to defend his country at UFC Brasilia by shutting up Kevin Lee
Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020
Charles Oliveira plans on beating Kevin Lee to defend Brazil in the main event of UFC Brasilia this Saturday. Lee is coming off a highlight-reel knockout win over Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244. It was a fight many thought he could lose. So, for Oliveira, he knows the “Motown Phenom” is coming in confident and poses a tough test.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals health battles from drastic dieting to move down from welterweight
Natasha Hooper - March 11, 2020
Don’t let Alexander Volkanovski’s height of 5’6″ inches deceive you, the current featherweight champion has fought contenders in significantly heavier weight classes. However, the journey to drop the pounds previously plagued “The Great” with multiple ailments: The Australian athlete joined the Joe Rogan Experience podcast today to discuss his recent title victory against Max Holloway. He also explained his transition from professional rugby to MMA and his dramatic weight loss that happened in the process:
Pedro Carvalho says he'll finish Patricio Freire inside three rounds to bring another belt to SBG Ireland
Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020
Pedro Carvalho is confident he will become Bellator’s new featherweight champion on Friday. In the main event of Bellator 241, Carvalho is set to battle Patricio Freire in the quarter-finals of the featherweight grand prix. It is a fight “Pitbull” picked during the selection show, which for Carvalho shows it is destined he becomes a world champion on Friday.
Renato Moicano still plans on going back to featherweight as he has 'business to settle'
Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020
Renato Moicano is looking to snap his two-fight losing streak when he moves up to lightweight at UFC Brasilia to battle Damir Hadzovic. In his last fight, he was knocked out by Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Greenville in just 58 seconds. After a bad weight cut for that one, he realized it was time to move up.
BREAKING | UFC targeting Darren Till vs. Robert Whittaker for UFC Dublin headliner
Tom Taylor - March 11, 2020
According to a report from ESPN, the UFC is targeting a middleweight bout between former champ Robert Whittaker and rising contender Darren Till as the main event for UFC Dublin on August 15. ESPN’s report specified that the bout is not yet official, but is in the process of being finalized.
UFC Columbus card could be impacted by coronavirus
Tom Taylor - March 11, 2020
On Wednesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine laid out new rules “in regard to mass gatherings in Ohio.” These rules immediately stand out as a problem for the upcoming UFC Columbus event. Shortly, we will be issuing rules in regard to mass gatherings in #Ohio. Every expert has told us that there is a risk in any kind of mass gathering – the closer you are to other people, the bigger the risk. You must ask yourself if going to a large gathering is necessary.