MMA News
Khabib Nurmagomedov shrugs off $100m payday for Conor McGregor rematch
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz recently claimed that his star client, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, has been offered $100M to rematch Conor McGregor in Saudi Arabia. The veracity of this statement from Ali Abdelaziz is not easy to determine, but either way, Nurmagomedov doesn’t seem all that interested. He thinks that money could be better spent elsewhere, like helping the blind.
Dominick Reyes sees two key weaknesses in Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2020
At UFC 247, which goes down this Saturday in Houston, Texas, Dominick Reyes will attempt to do what so many others have failed to do: defeat UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. While Reyes will enter this fight as a significant underdog, he’s brimming with confidence, and believes Jones has two key weaknesses that he might be able to expose.
Petr Yan interested in fighting TJ Dillashaw
Adam Martin - February 4, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Petr Yan says that he is interested in fighting former champion TJ Dillashaw when he returns from suspension in 2020. Dillashaw, the former two-time UFC bantamweight champ, has been out since January 2019 due to testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He is set to return in January 2020 from suspension and Yan says that he wants to fight him upon his return.
Leon Edwards makes prediction for Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal fight
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2020
Leon Edwards is not a fan of Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal’s altercation at Radio Row during Super Bowl week. The two were doing radio shows to talk about what’s next for them when they saw each other and got into a verbal altercation. Immediately, it went all over social media and UFC president Dana White said he was not a fan of it. For Edwards, he agrees with White and says it makes MMA and the UFC look fake like the WWE.
Dominick Reyes responds to Jon Jones saying he only beats cans
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 4, 2020
Dominick Reyes is aware of Jon Jones’ latest digs just ahead of UFC 247. We’ve entered fight week for the UFC’s next pay-per-view event. This Saturday night, Jones will put his light heavyweight gold on the line against Reyes. “Bones” is hoping to pull off the third successful title defense in his second reign as the 205-pound king. Reyes would like to capitalize on his first UFC title opportunity.
Anthony Smith nearly amputated his finger to keep fighting
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2020
Anthony Smith has not fought since he defeated Alexander Gustafsson last June, having been sidelined by an unfortunate hand injury. The former light heavyweight title challenger has had multiple surgeries in an effort to cure this injury, and as he revealed in an interview with ESPN on Monday, nearly amputated his finger when surgery didn’t immediately correct the issue.
Jon Jones recounts getting bad 'energy' from referees in UFC fights
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2020
Dominick Reyes has stated that he intends to remind the referee for his UFC 247 fight Jon Jones of Jones’ infamous tendency to land eye-pokes. Understandably, Reyes’ doing so may cause the referee to keep an extra close eye on Jones in the fight. Apparently, that’s something Jones is used to.
Ilir Latifi says he's coming for the heavyweight division and it starts with Derrick Lewis
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2020
Ilir Latifi always wanted to fight Derrick Lewis and now he has gotten his wish. On the main card of UFC 247, Latifi will move up in weight to battle Lewis.
Mirsad Bektic looking to put losses and injuries behind him in 2020: 'It was a very dark time for me'
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2020
Mirsad Bektic admits after losing to Josh Emmett in July it was hard for him mentally. Bektic made his return to the Octagon for the first time in over a year after multiple injuries and a canceled fight to Renato Moicano at UFC 231. After the loss, Bektic started to reflect on the past year and admits he was in a dark place.
UFC 247: Jones vs Reyes official fight card and start times
Harry Kettle - February 4, 2020
It’s time to take a look at the official fight card for UFC 247 this weekend as the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Houston, Texas. The card is set to be headlined by Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes with the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship being on the line. Alongside that, though, there are plenty of other fascinating showdowns for fans to sink their teeth into.
VIDEO | Tyron Woodley sharpening his tools in Thailand ahead of Leon Edwards bout
Natasha Hooper - February 4, 2020
Tyron Woodley is refining his technique in Thailand as he prepares to face Leon Edwards in his next UFC fight. The former welterweight champion has been out of action since losing his 170-pound title at UFC 235 in March 2019 against Kamaru Usman.
Jon Jones most tested athlete in any sport according to Jeff Novitzky
Adam Martin - February 3, 2020
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was the most tested athlete in any sport in 2019 according to UFC executive Jeff Novitzky. Jones was tested 42 times in 2019 by USADA, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and the California State Athletic Commission combined. According to Novitzky, the UFC Senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance, that’s the most drug tests in one year for one particular athlete that he’s ever seen in his 20 years of experience in the space.
Jon Jones says 'child' Israel Adesanya won't be a challenge if they fight
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2020
Jon Jones doesn’t believe Israel Adesanya wants to fight him, but if they do scrap, it apparently won’t be a challenge for him. “Bones” is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 this Saturday. Should he win he has spoken about going up to heavyweight and fighting Stipe Miocic. Yet, one intriguing last fight at light heavyweight could be against the promotions current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Colby Covington tears into referee Marc Goddard, promises to give him a wedgie: "You suck at your job"
Adam Martin - February 3, 2020
UFC welterweight Colby Covington tore into referee Marc Goddard in an expletive-filled rant for stopping his title fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 245. Goddard stepped in and stopped the UFC welterweight title fight at UFC 245 due to TKO with just over a minute left to go. The judges had the fight scored as a split decision heading into the fifth round, and Goddard stopping the bout meant the judges’ scorecards never came into play, though Covington would have likely lost a decision if he made it the distance regardless due to the output of Usman in the fifth round.
Jon Jones says he really wants to fight Stipe Miocic because he knows he would beat him
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2020
Jon Jones is confident that he would beat Stipe Miocic if they were to fight. Jones is set to defend his light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 247 this Saturday against Dominick Reyes. Should “Bones” win, many hope he will move up to heavyweight, which he has been reluctant to do in the past. Yet, it appears he is open to a move up to scrap the champ in Miocic.
Colby Covington denies breaking jaw in Kamaru Usman fight
Adam Martin - February 3, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has denied that be broke his jaw during his title match against Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 245. There has been plenty of speculation that Covington broke his jaw fairly early against Usman and that he continued to fight with it up until the finish late in the fifth round. After losing the fight, Covington was criticized for running backstage and not waiting for the official result to be read, but he also got a pass due to breaking his jaw.
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.