MMA News

Islam Makhachev, Dillon Danis, Kevin Lee
UFC

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Hernandez added to UFC 249

Adam Martin - March 1, 2020

An exciting lightweight bout between top-15 ranked Islam Makhachev and Alexander Hernandez is the latest addition to UFC 249. MMAjunkie.com reported that Makhachev vs. Hernandez has been verbally agreed to for UFC 249, which takes place on April 18 at Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main event sees UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov take on Tony Ferguson.

Magomed-Ankalaev
UFC

Magomed Ankalaev would rematch Ion Cutelaba, but believes he hurt him with kicks

Adam Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev says he would rematch Ion Cutelaba if the UFC wants it, but he believes he hurt his opponent before the ref stoppage. Ankalaev was declared the winner by TKO early in the first round after connecting with several kicks to the body and head of Cutelaba, who appeared to be wobbling. But Cutelaba was actually playing possum, which became apparent as soon as referee Kevin MacDonald stepped in. The replay also showed that Cutelaba was blocking a majority of the strikes. Several UFC fighters commented it was amongst the worst stoppages they’ve ever seen as Cutelaba was clearly not knocked out and the fight had no business of being stopped.

Joseph Benavidez, UFC Norfolk
UFC

Joseph Benavidez releases statement following KO loss at UFC Norfolk

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez has released a statement following a devastating KO loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Norfolk. In his third bid to win the UFC flyweight crown, Benavidez was knocked out by Figueiredo in brutal fashion in the second round of their headlining bout. However, because Figueiredo missed weight he was not eligible to win the flyweight title, making a Benavidez loss unfortunate on so many levels. Benavidez is one of the best fighters in flyweight history, but his legacy will never be complete without a title.

Kamaru Usman, Jorge Masvidal
UFC

Jorge Masvidal unloads on Kamaru Usman for threatening his manager

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal unloaded on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for threatening his manager Abe Kawa on social media. Usman and Masvidal are set to meet at International Fight Week in Las Vegas in July. The contract is not signed yet but is expected to be in the coming months.

Felicia-Spencer
UFC

Felicia Spencer believes she has earned title shot against Amanda Nunes

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC women’s featherweight contender Felicia Spencer believes she has done enough to earn a title shot against champion Amanda Nunes. Spencer picked up a vicious first-round TKO finish over Zarah Fairn in the co-main event at UFC Norfolk. The victory over Fairn upped Spencer’s UFC record to 2-1 with another stoppage win over Megan Anderson in her Octagon debut and a decision loss to Cris Cyborg in her second UFC fight. In the shallow UFC women’s featherweight division, that sort of resume is likely enough to earn Spencer a crack at the belt.

Henry Cejudo, Dana White
UFC

Henry Cejudo announces he is returning to flyweight: “I’m coming back down to take all their heads”

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo says he plans on returning to flyweight after no new title was handed out in the main event of UFC Norfolk. Cejudo vacated his belt when he decided to stay at bantamweight for his next fight against Jose Aldo at UFC 250. The vacant belt was supposed to be on the line at UFC Norfolk but no new champion was crowned because Deiveson Figueiredo missed weight, making him ineligible to win the vacant flyweight belt when he knocked out Joseph Benavidez. That means the UFC flyweight division once again does not have a champion, putting the division on life support once again.

Ion Cutelaba
UFC

Ion Cutelaba admits to playing possum prior to controversial stoppage at UFC Norfolk

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC light heavyweight Ion Cutelaba says he was playing possum when the referee controversially stopped his fight against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Norfolk. Referee Kevin MacDonald stepped in and stopped the fight after Ankalaev landed several kicks and a punch, but replays showed that Cutelaba blocked the majority of the incoming strikes. Cutelaba did appear to be wobbling, which the referee obviously was concerned with, but the Moldovan fighter says that was all an act.

Amanda Nunes, Dana White
UFC

Amanda Nunes reacts to impressive performances from Megan Anderson and Felicia Spencer at UFC Norfolk

Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020

UFC women’s featherweight champion Amanda Nunes says she was impressed by both Felicia Spencer and Megan Anderson at UFC Norfolk. The UFC women’s featherweight division had two fights at UFC Norfolk. In the first, Anderson finished Octagon newcomer Norma Dumont in devastating fashion with a first-round KO. In the second, Spencer stopped Zarah Fairn in the first round with heavy ground-and-pound. Both Anderson and Spencer were very impressive in their performances, and Nunes took notice of what each woman did.

Joseph Benavidez
Megan Olivi

VIDEO | Megan Olivi reacts after husband Joseph Benavidez suffers TKO loss at UFC Norfolk

Christopher Taylor - February 29, 2020

Megan Olivi was cageside to watch her husband Joseph Benavidez take on Deivedson Figueiredo for the UFC’s vacant flyweight title this evening in Virginia. The highly anticipated matchup served as the headliner of UFC Norfolk, but only Benavidez was eligible to take home the 125-pound strap, this after Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5lbs on Friday.

Joseph Benavidez, UFC on ESPN+ 30
Joseph Benavidez

Joseph Benavidez reacts following "nightmare" loss to Deiveson Figueiredo

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Flyweight standout Joseph Benavidez received his third crack at 125-pound gold this evening when he squared off with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Norfolk. ‘Joe-Jitsu’ was the only man eligible to take home the promotions vacant flyweight world title, this after Figueiredo missed the title fight weight limit by 2.5lbs on Friday.

Henry Cejudo, Dana White, Valentina Shevchenko, Ali Abdelaziz
Henry Cejudo

Henry Cejudo reacts to Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo has shared his reaction to tonight’s UFC Norfolk main event between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo. ‘Joe-Jitsu’ had the opportunity to capture the promotions vacant flyweight world title by disposing of Fiueiredo this evening.

Ion Cutelaba
UFC

UFC Fighters react to terrible stoppage in Ankalaev vs. Cutelaba fight

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

One of the worst stoppages in UFC history occurred during a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba at tonight’s event in Virginia. Ankalaev and Cutelaba collided on the main card of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event with referee Kevin McDonald overseeing the contest.

Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC rankings
Joseph Benavidez

UFC Norfolk Results: Deiveson Figueiredo KO's Joseph Benavidez (Video)

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Joseph Benavidez has another chance to capture UFC gold when he squares off with Deiveson Figueiredo in the headliner of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event. Benavidez and Figueiredo were supposed to be fighting for the promotions vacant 125-pound title. However, after the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5lbs on Friday, now only ‘Joe-Jitsu’ is eligible to take home the belt.

Felicia Spencer
UFC

UFC Norfolk Results: Felicia Spencer stops Zarah Fairn (Video)

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

A key women’s featherweight bout between Felicia Spencer and Zarah Fairn served as the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event. The 29-year-old Canadian, Spencer (7-1 MMA), returns to action for the first time since suffering the first loss of her career to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240 by decision.

Jose Aldo
Henry Cejudo

Dana White defends Jose Aldo vs. Henry Cejudo booking at UFC 250

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

UFC President Dana White has defended his decision to book Jose Aldo as the next man to challenge Henry Cejudo for the promotions bantamweight title. Earlier this week it was announced that the Brazilian legend, Aldo,  would be fighting ‘Triple C’ for his bantamweight title at May’s UFC 250 event in Sao Paulo.

Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor
UFC

UFC Fighters vent over low pay while investors score big dividends

Natasha Hooper - February 29, 2020

Current and former UFC fighters are left angered over low pay in comparison to the organization’s multimillion-dollar payments to its rich investors. According to The New York Post, it was revealed earlier this month that approximately $300 million will be paid in one-time dividends to the company’s A-list of celebrity investors. Model Gisele Bündchen, actor Mark Wahlberg and actress Charlize Theron are among the beneficiaries.

Joseph Benavidez, Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC on ESPN+ 30
Joseph Benavidez

UFC Norfolk: 'Benavidez vs. Figueiredo' Results and Highlights

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Joseph Benavidez has another chance to capture UFC gold when he squares off with Deiveson Figueiredo in the headliner of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event. Benavidez and Figueiredo were supposed to be fighting for the promotions vacant 125-pound title. However, after the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5lbs on Friday, now only ‘Joe’Jitsu’ is eligible to take home the belt.

Jon Jones, Dominick Reyes
UFC

Dominick Reyes deserves Jon Jones rematch, says Dana White

Adam Martin - February 29, 2020

UFC president Dana White believes that Dominick Reyes deserves a rematch against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Reyes fought Jones tooth-and-nail for 25 minutes in the main event of UFC 247. Despite many fans and media scoring the bout in favor of Reyes, the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Jones in one of the more controversial title fight decisions of recent memory. Immediately after the fight was over, fans were calling for a rematch.