MMA News

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.

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.

Adam Martin - January 31, 2020

Umar Nurmagomedov, the younger cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has signed a new contract with the UFC. The more famous Nurmagomedov broke the news of his cousin’s signing on his Instagram. Here’s what he wrote below (translated from Russian).

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.

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.

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.

Mike Heck - January 31, 2020

While there were two big events in the MMA world on Saturday night — UFC on ESPN+ 24 and Bellator 238 — Montel Jackson may have won the entire weekend before his fight with Felipe Colares even began. Prior to his unanimous decision win over Colares in Raleigh, NC, Jackson walked to the Octagon to a song very few combat sports fans expected to hear: Whitney Houston’s mega-hit song released in November 1992, I Will Always Love You.

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.

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.

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.

Natasha Hooper - January 31, 2020

Social media star Jake Paul followed in the footsteps of his brother last night, as he stepped foot in the boxing ring to fight AnEsonGib in a pro bout. His older brother and fellow YouTuber Logan Paul joined the boxing circuit in 2018 to face KSI. The stars battled to a draw in their first fight, but KSI outpointed the older Paul brother in their 2019 rematch.

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.

Cole Shelton - January 30, 2020

Israel Adesanya is full of confidence ahead of his title fight against Yoel Romero. In the main event of UFC 248, Adesanya will look to defend his title for the first time when he takes on Romero. Yet, “The Last Stylebender” revealed it was tough to convince the UFC to make this fight with the Cuban in Romero being on a two-fight losing streak.

Mike Pendleton - January 30, 2020

The tragic passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant shocked and shook the sports world, and it’ll have an effect on the UFC 247 main event as well. During a media luncheon ahead of his fight for the UFC light heavyweight title against Jon Jones, challenger Dominick Reyes hopes to honor Kobe Bryant. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Reyes said he would like to honor Bryant, who he said is the only athlete he’s ever looked up to.

Natasha Hooper - January 30, 2020

Conor McGregor’s ex-coach Jonathan Dargan has been convicted of manslaughter. The Irishman punched former Guinness worker Paddy Mullally outside of an apartment complex in the early hours of Saturday in March 2016. Mr Mullally was accompanied by a man named Shane Cunningham. The pair tried to intervene in a row that Dargan was having with his girlfriend. Subsequently, Dargan aimed a number of punches at the men.

Adam Martin - January 30, 2020

UFC welterweight Donald Cerrone has denied taking a dive against superstar Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 246 two weeks ago. McGregor needed just 40 seconds to knock Cerrone out and immediately after the fight there were plenty of fans, and even some media members, who accused “Cowboy” of taking a dive. Cerrone hasn’t said much since the fight happened, but he is finally talking about what happened in the fight.

Adam Martin - January 30, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Edson Barboza believes that Tony Ferguson has a good chance to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 249. Barboza has fought both Ferguson and Nurmagomedov, losing to both. Barboza lost by submission to Ferguson at the TUF 22 Finale in December 2015 and lost a decision to Nurmagomedov at UFC 219 in December 2017. So if anyone has insight into the Ferguson vs. Nurmagomedov matchup, it’s Barboza.

Adam Martin - January 30, 2020

Former UFC title contender Kenny Florian says that he was nearly killed in a car accident in the United Kingdom on Thursday. Florian said that a massive truck nearly trapped the tiny car he was traveling underneath it, and once they swerved out of the way they were hit by a large van. Florian credits the car’s driver, Paul Walker, for saving his life.