MMA News
Dana White reveals likely plan for Conor McGregor following Masvidal vs. Usman booking
Chris Taylor - February 1, 2020
Former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor is currently awaiting his next assignment from promotional President Dana White. The Irish star returned to action for the first time in over a year at last month’s UFC 246 event, where he needed just 40-seconds to dismantle Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in a welterweight bout.
Dana White says Conor McGregor is 'one of the biggest stars ever in combat sports'
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2020
UFC president, Dana White knows how big of a star Conor McGregor is. McGregor is no doubt the biggest star in MMA but White believes he is one of the biggest in combat sports history. But, it isn’t just McGregor as the star of the UFC, rather the UFC boss knows he has a number of solid draws.
Israel Adesanya eyes future title defense against Darren Till in a stadium in London
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2020
Israel Adesanya knows he will fight Darren Till one day. Adesanya, is set for his first title defense against Yoel Romero at UFC 248, in a fight that he believes will be easy. So, “The Last Stylebender” is actively looking at future fights and has his eyes on a scrap with Darren Till. He and the Englishman get along great but he knows style-wise, that is a fight that must happen.
Michael Bisping slams Maycee Barber over handling of UFC 246 loss: 'You're not going to win any fans'
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2020
Michael Bisping is not a fan of the way Maycee Barber has handled her loss to Roxanne Modafferi. At UFC 246, Barber was looking to stay undefeated and improve to 9-0. Yet, she lost by unanimous decision where she also tore her ACL.
Petr Yan responds to Aljamain Sterling callout
Natasha Hooper - January 31, 2020
Aljamain Sterling wants the UFC spotlight focused on him. To do so, he wants to take centre stage against number three ranked bantamweight, Petr Yan. On social media, the New York native called for a showdown against the surging Russian prospect. He said:
Dana White confirms Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal for International Fight Week
Adam Martin - January 31, 2020
UFC president Dana White has confirmed UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will fight Jorge Masvidal at International Fight Week in Las Vegas this July. Usman revealed this week to Joe Rogan that White told him the promotion was looking to set up a fight with Masvidal when Usman is healthy to fight. Usman and Masvidal then got into a verbal altercation in Miami this week ahead of the Super Bowl, furthering speculation a fight could come together.
Diego Sanchez accepts three-month USADA sanction
Adam Martin - January 31, 2020
Veteran UFC welterweight Diego Sanchez has accepted a three-month sanction from USADA for a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. Sanchez tested positive for the prohibited substances ostarine and S-23 in an out-of-competition test in December and was given a three-month sanction. However, USADA says these substances originated in Sanchez’s system in October, making him eligible to still fight Michel Pereira at UFC Rio Rancho in February.
Dustin Poirier set to take on Gary Tonon in grappling match
Adam Martin - January 31, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier says that he is set to take on Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Gary Tonon in a grappling match in February. Poirier will take on Tonon in the main event of the SubStars Jiu-Jitsu event on February 21 at The Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach, Florida. Also expected to compete on the card is Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Lovato Jr. when he takes on Robert “Cyborg” Abreu. The JiuJitsuTimes.com has the full card.
Kevin Lee plans to remind Charles Oliveira that he's in 'the big leagues now' in UFC Brasilia main event
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2020
Kevin Lee did not expect to be fighting Charles Oliveira next but is excited about the scrap. In the main event of UFC Brasilia on March 14, Lee will look to make it two in a row when he battles the local favorite Oliveira. “The Motown Phenom” says fighting a Brazilian in Brazil is something not many people want to do. But he is excited about the opportunity.
Report | Manager says Petr Yan vs. Marlon Moraes fight is possible
Adam Martin - January 31, 2020
The manager for UFC bantamweight contender Petr Yan says that the rising star could take on Marlon Moraes in May or June. Yan is coming off of a huge KO win over Urijah Faber at UFC 245 which catapulted him into title contention at 135lbs as the No. 3-ranked contender. Moraes, meanwhile, defeated Jose Aldo via split decision to keep his spot as the No. 1 contender. However, despite both Yan and Moraes picking up wins, the UFC decided to instead give Aldo the title shot against UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo in a controversial move.
Jared Cannonier calls out Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 248
Adam Martin - January 31, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier is currently without an opponent for UFC 248 and he has now turned his attention to a fight against Kelvin Gastelum. Cannonier was originally set to fight Robert Whittaker at UFC 248 but Whittaker withdrew from the fight due to personal reasons. Cannonier was then set to take on Darren Till, but Till was also removed from the fight due to what UFC president Dana White says was an ankle injury. That leaves Cannonier without an opponent for the March pay-per-view event.
Newly retired Josh Thomson opens up on future plans
Natasha Hooper - January 31, 2020
This week on his Weighing In podcast, Josh Thomson announced his official retirement from fighting. “I can say that I’m officially retired,” Thomson began.
Kamaru Usman sends warning to Jorge Masvidal
Tom Taylor - January 31, 2020
All signs point to Jorge Masvidal getting the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Usman, who recently had a heated run-in with Masvidal in Miami, would seemingly relish the opportunity to punish him in the cage.
Miesha Tate praises Cris Cyborg: 'She's damn near one of a kind'
Mike Pendleton - January 31, 2020
Cris Cyborg made a successful Bellator MMA debut when she defeated Julia Budd at Bellator 238 and won the featherweight title. In doing so, Cyborg also added her fourth promotional world title, adding the Bellator belt to a trophy case that already included Strikeforce, Invicta and UFC belts. Feeling refreshed with her new promotion unlike her time in the UFC, Cyborg put on a performance to remember in her Bellator debut. Her performance against Budd was masterful enough to get the attention of a former champion as well.
Henry Cejudo blasts 'wannabe good guy' Conor McGregor
Harry Kettle - January 31, 2020
UFC Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo has taken a shot at Conor McGregor as he looks back on his journey to the top of MMA. As many fans know, Cejudo’s road in combat sports didn’t start with mixed martial arts. The wrestler established himself as one of the best in the world within his own weight class at the Olympic Games, bringing home a gold medal for good measure for Team USA.
Israel Adesanya says Jon Jones can ‘run to heavyweight’, but he will hunt him down regardless
Natasha Hooper - January 31, 2020
Israel Adesanya wants to cement his legacy as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time. To do so, Adesanya believes he needs to face the light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. In a recent interview with BT Sport, Jones shut down claims of a potential Adesanya matchup. The UFC star doesn’t see himself facing the middleweight champion in the future as he will likely move up to heavyweight.
Jimi Manuwa hints at potential comeback
Adam Martin - January 30, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa is teasing a potential comeback to the Octagon after retiring last year. Manuwa hung up his gloves after getting brutally knocked out with a head kick by Aleksandar Rakic in June 2019. It was the fourth loss in a row for Manuwa, with three vicious knockout losses during that stretch. At age 39, Manuwa decided to call it a career.
Jorge Masvidal warns Israel Adesanya of Yoel Romero's power: 'You might wake up in a recovery bed'
Cole Shelton - January 30, 2020
Jorge Masvidal believes Yoel Romero will defeat Israel Adesanya to win the promotions middleweight title. Adesanya had publicly called out Yoel Romero for his first title defense after Paulo Costa got injured and it will happen in the main event of UFC 248. Even though the fight is over a month away, Masvidal says his teammate and friend in Romero is already ready.