MMA News

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.

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.

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Colby Covington went to war with Kamaru Usman at UFC 245 this past December, but ultimately fell short in his quest to capture the promotions welterweight world title. After a thrilling opening four rounds of action, many fans and analysts had the UFC 245 tied up 2-2 going into the fifth and final round.

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor has sent Joseph Benavidez a message of support ahead of his title opportunity at UFC Norfolk. The former two-time flyweight title challenger, Benavidez (28-5 MMA), will square off with Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1 MMA) for the promotions vacant 125-pound title in this evenings main event.

Cole Shelton - February 28, 2020

Tito Ortiz has officially defeated Alberto Del Rio. Back at Combate Americas 51 on Dec. 7, Ortiz was making his promotional debut against Alberto Del Rio. In the lead-up to the fight, the two traded shots at one another and even had a bet where Ortiz put his UFC belt on the line while Del Rio put the WWE heavyweight strap on the line. In the end, it was Ortiz who got his hand raised by first-round submission win.

Adam Martin - February 28, 2020

The MMA community was left disappointed on Friday morning when Deiveson Figueiredo missed weight for his vacant flyweight title against Joseph Benavidez. Benavidez meets Figueiredo on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Norfolk, but the vacant UFC flyweight title will only be on the line for Benavidez in the bout. That’s because Figueiredo stepped onto the scales at 127.5lbs, coming in 2.5lbs heavy for his vacant flyweight title fight against Benavidez on his first attempt on the scale to make weight.

Adam Martin - February 28, 2020

UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes is expected to defend her 145lbs title at UFC 250 this May in Brazil. UFC 250 is scheduled to take place on May 9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The card will be headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo when he takes on Jose Aldo in his first title defense at 135lbs. Nunes has plenty of experience fighting as the co-main event in title defenses and would slot in nicely in the co-headlining slot on this card.

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

UFC strawweight Jessica Penne has accepted a 20-month sanction from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for her second anti-doping policy violation. USADA announced this development in a Friday press release.

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

Joshua Fabia says Diego Sanchez is still evolving as a fighter — even at 38 years old and after close to 20 years in the UFC. He believes that continued evolution is “remarkable” and is taking full credit for it. “You’re an expert, and you didn’t point out that it’s kind of (expletive) amazing that Diego Sanchez, 16 years in the UFC, been pretty much the Rocky Marciano of the sport – he’s moving,” Fabia told MMA Junkie this week. “He can change stance. He went from a southpaw to this. How are you not putting the emphasis on a 38-year-old man, in less than a year, changed his style – and one guy did it? Not a team of six guys. How come no one is saying anything positive like that? You see it, but you’re not giving credit to the professional that has done something remarkable.”

Adam Martin - February 28, 2020

UFC president Dana White says he doesn’t care if he loses UFC fans over his friendship with United States President Donald Trump. White recently spoke at Trump’s political rally in Colorado which led to criticism from a segment of MMA fans who are not Trump supporters. There were a number of MMA fans who were upset White spoke so glowingly about President Trump, but White doesn’t care what they think.

Cole Shelton - February 28, 2020

Deiveson Figueiredo was looking to become the new UFC flyweight champion on Saturday but that will no longer be the case. In the main event of UFC Norfolk, Figueiredo was set to take on Joseph Benavidez for the vacant flyweight title. Yet, on Friday morning, the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5 pounds and didn’t attempt to cut the remaining pounds. Meaning Benavidez will be the only one who can win the flyweight title on Saturday night.

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

Deiveson Figueiredo could have become a UFC champion this weekend. Unfortunately, a scale fail has dashed his title dreams. On Friday morning, Figueiredo missed weight for his flyweight title fight with Joseph Benavidez, which tops Saturday’s UFC Norfolk card. The Brazilian finished tipped the scales at 127.5 pounds, a significant 2.5 pounds over the 125-pound limit for flyweight title fights. While he was initially given an extra hour to make weight, he and his team ultimately abandoned their attempt to do so.

Harry Kettle - February 28, 2020

Umar Nurmagomedov has been immediately called out by Merab Dvalishvili after it was revealed that he has signed with the UFC. The highly thought of younger cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov has been making waves for a while now, accumulating a 12-0 professional mixed martial arts record prior to his entry into the UFC. The expectations are obviously going to be high regarding what he can accomplish with the promotion, and it doesn’t seem as if the UFC is going to waste any time in booking him.

Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020

Joseph Benavidez recently explained why he doesn’t need to beat Henry Cejudo to be worthy of the flyweight title. This weekend at UFC Norfolk, Benavidez will face Deiveson Figueiredo for the flyweight strap. The 125-pound belt is up for grabs ever since Henry Cejudo was stripped of the title. 

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

Stamp Fairtex is no longer a two-sport champ. In the main event of Friday’s ONE: King of the Jungle card in Singapore, Stamp sought to defend her ONE atomweight kickboxing title against California’s Janet Todd — who she defeated by decision to win the ONE atomweight Muay Thai title roughly one year ago. It was an extremely competitive fight, with Todd finding success with her boxing and volume, and Stamp bludgeoning her challenger with a steady diet of leg kicks. Ultimately, however, the judges handed Todd a split decision victory. She’ll return to California with a ONE world title belt in her luggage, while Stamp’s dreams of becoming a three-sport champ are dashed for the time being.

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

Yoshihiro Akiyama picked up an incredible knockout victory at Friday’s ONE: King of the Jungle card in Singapore. Akiyama appeared on the event’s main card, battling Egypt’s Sherif Mohamed in a 185-pound scrap.

Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020

Diego Sanchez came up short against Michel Pereira this month at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho. Pereira appeared to have the upper hand until he struck his opponent with an illegal knee that changed the course of action. Sanchez decided not to continue the bout and was awarded a disqualification victory.

Cole Shelton - February 27, 2020

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira expects to end his legendary career at UFC 250 when he has his trilogy fight against Shogun Rua. Nogueira hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Ryan Spann back at UFC 237. The 43-year-old Brazilian legend is just 4-6 in his last 10, so he says this fight against Rua will be his farewell fight.