MMA News
Colby Covington: Kamaru Usman is the 'second best' fighter in the world
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2020
Colby Covington went uncharacteristically quiet after his UFC 245 welterweight title fight fight with Kamaru Usman, which he lost via fifth-round TKO after four razor-close rounds. That period of silence has ended. Now, the outspoken welterweight star is back in the headlines will all of the confidence and bravado for which he’s become known.
Jon Jones says transgressions are in the past: 'I take more accountability for my actions'
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2020
Jon Jones is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Unfortunately, Jones is also known for his lengthy list of issues outside the cage, which have resulted in legal trouble and brushes with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The good news for Jones fans, though, is that he says these issues are in the rear-view mirror. As he gears up for a Saturday night title fight with Dominick Reyes, Jones spoke to ESPN to discuss his troubled past, and his new focus on taking more accountability for his actions.
Kamaru Usman dismisses theory that Ali Abdelaziz hacked his Twitter account
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 3, 2020
Kamaru Usman doesn’t believe the theory that Ali Abdelaziz hacked his Twitter account is warranted. Abdelaziz is Usman’s manager. Many have shared their viewpoints on the popular MMA manager, and some don’t exactly see him as a wholesome person. Usman, who is the reigning UFC welterweight champion, found himself locked out of his Twitter account on the night of UFC 246. Some nasty tweets aimed at McGregor and others forced the UFC and Twitter to shut down the account temporarily while attempting to get “The Nigerian Nightmare” his access back.
Stephen A. Smith 'will not apologize' to Rogan, McGregor
Tom Taylor - February 3, 2020
Stephen A. Smith found himself in hot water for the comments he made about Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone after UFC 246. Among his most vocal critics were UFC commentator Joe Rogan, and the man who knocked Cowboy out in 40 seconds on the card, Conor McGregor. Both Rogan and McGregor suggested Smith should walk his comments back, with the latter even demanding an apology on behalf of his vanquished foe.
Jon Jones believes ‘beating up on cans’ has Dominick Reyes making delusional statements
Natasha Hooper - February 3, 2020
Jon Jones has made it clear how he feels about Dominick Reyes. The light heavyweight champion trashed his upcoming opponent’s recent comments as “the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a while.” On February 8, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Jones will defend his championship belt for the 14th time against the undefeated contender. Reyes is coming off a statement-making KO victory against Chris Weidman in the first-round of their 2019 bout. The undefeated fighter has tallied a professional 12-0 record with 4 first-round finishes since making his UFC debut in 2017.
Chael Sonnen weighs in on Kamaru Usman-Jorge Masvidal Altercation
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 3, 2020
Chael Sonnen admits things looked a bit suspicious to him in the confrontation between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal but he isn’t blaming either fighter. Last week ahead of the NFL Super Bowl LIV, UFC welterweight champion Usman and BMF title holder Masvidal engaged in an altercation on Radio Row in Miami. The two exchanged heated words and had to be separated. The confrontation did not get physical.
Mike Perry calls out Geoff Neal for rematch
Adam Martin - February 3, 2020
Popular UFC welterweight Mike Perry has called out his last opponent Geoff Neal for a rematch after their fight at UFC 245 in December. Perry suffered the first knockout loss of his MMA career when Neal finished him with a head kick and punches just 90 seconds into their welterweight fight at UFC 245 in Las Vegas. For Perry, it was his second straight loss and his third loss in his last four fights, while for Neal it upped his winning streak to seven straight fights.
Jon Jones can rewrite the history books at UFC 247
Natasha Hooper - February 3, 2020
Jon Jones can make history at UFC 247. The light heavyweight champion returns to action against Dominick Reyes in the main event of the card on Saturday, February 9. The pay-per-view event take place in the Toyota Center in Houston and will be his first appearance since his split decision victory over Thiago Santos in July 2019.
Report | Saudi Arabia offering $100 million to host Khabib vs. McGregor 2
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2020
According to Ali Abdelaziz, officials in Saudi Arabia are willing to pay Khabib Nurmagomedov $100 million to fight Conor McGregor once again. There’s been a great deal of speculation as to whether or not “The Eagle” and “The Notorious” would have a rematch, and that talk has been ongoing since their controversial clash in the main event of UFC 229 in 2018.
Kamaru Usman wants to make $250 million in UFC, then become a marriage counselor
Natasha Hooper - February 3, 2020
Kamaru Usman has some big ambitions he wants to achieve. But what is just as surprising are his smaller ambitions. The welterweight champion has a unique interest in becoming a marriage counsellor. On an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, the 170-pound fighter revealed the wealth he wants to achieve first to set his family up for life.
Urijah Faber says "everyone's sleeping on Dominick Cruz" at 135lbs
Adam Martin - February 2, 2020
UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber says that Dominick Cruz is a dark horse and that “everyone’ sleeping on” him in the bantamweight title picture. Faber has fought Cruz three times, with Cruz winning two of those fights, so he would know better than anyone just how capable “The Dominator” is at 135lbs. Right now, Henry Cejudo is the UFC bantamweight champion and former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is next in line for the belt when he gets his title shot at UFC 250 in May.
Ali Abdelaziz to Conor McGregor: "Hey b*tch, go fight Justin Gaethje" before Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch
Adam D Martin - February 2, 2020
Manager Ali Abdelaziz says that Conor McGregor needs to beat Justin Gaethje if he wants to get a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor knocked out Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds in a very impressive performance at UFC 246, but according to Abdelaziz, Team Nurmagomedov wants McGregor to get a more relevant win if he wants to earn his title shot rematch.
Jon Jones says he will still be the best fighter in MMA 10 years from now
Adam D Martin - February 2, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says that he will still be the best fighter in MMA 10 years from now. Jones is universally regarded as the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter on the planet and arguably the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time. Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani ahead of his UFC 247 title defense against Dominick Reyes, Jones says that he believes not only is he the best fighter in the world right now but that he still will be 10 years from now.
Gegard Mousasi, Douglas Lima open to vacant Bellator middleweight title fight
Adam D Martin - February 2, 2020
Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima, two of the most elite fighters in Bellator, are open to fighting each other for the promotion’s vacant middleweight title. Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Lovato Jr. admitted last week on the Joe Rogan Experience show that he has a rare brain condition. He has not retired yet and Bellator later released a statement that they have not made a decision on what to do with his belt at this point. But if Lovato Jr. is forced to retire or sit out a significant period of time the promotion may opt to strip him of his title and let the division move on.
Thomas Almeida hopes to return from two-year layoff at UFC 250
Adam D Martin - February 2, 2020
Former top-ranked bantamweight prospect Thomas Almeida hopes to return from a two-year layoff this spring at UFC 250 in his native Brazil. Almeida began his MMA career 16-0 with 16 finishes and was the Legacy FC bantamweight champion when the UFC came calling in 2014. The Brazilian defeated Tim Gorman, Yves Jabouin, Brad Pickett and Anthony Birchak in his first four UFC fights, winning $50,000 bonuses in all four of those fights. At the time, Almeida was unstoppable and looked like he would be a future world champion.
Weili Zhang will leave China due to coronavirus outbreak, finish UFC 248 camp in Las Vegas
Adam D Martin - February 2, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang has decided to head to leave Beijing and head to Las Vegas to complete her training camp for UFC 248. Zhang is set to take on rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, taking place on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Zhang had planned on finishing her training camp in her native Beijing, China, but due to the coronavirus outbreak which has left hundreds dead and thousands more in hospitals, she has decided to head to Las Vegas, Nevada to finish her camp.
VIDEO | Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov smash an opponent with headbutts
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2020
Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history. ‘The Eagle’ captured the promotions vacant lightweight title with a decision victory over Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 in April of 2018. The Russian standout has since defended his crown against former division champion Conor McGregor and most recently Dustin Poirier.
Brendan Schaub believes Dana White and the UFC are overlooking Tony Ferguson
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2020
Brendan Schaub believes Dana White and UFC officials are overlooking Tony Ferguson in his upcoming title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249. On April 18 in Brooklyn, the former UFC interim lightweight title holder, Ferguson, will challenge the promotions undefeated UFC lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov.