MMA News
Colby Covington gives timeline on potential Jorge Masvidal fight and explains rivalry
Natasha Hooper - December 11, 2019
Colby Covington is expected to fight welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 245. Their growing disdain for one another will be put to the test in the title bout set for December 14th. The 31-year old already has his sights set on his next opponent, as Covington wants to fight his former friend turned foe, Jorge Masvidal. In an interview with BT Sport, the welterweight title challenger explains why:
Colby Covington admits he doesn't 'feel comfortable' at American Top Team
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
Colby Covington, who will challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 245 on Saturday night, has called American Top Team home for the duration of his MMA career. Unfortunately, he has made enemies of several fighters at the Florida gym — most notably Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal — which has caused things to become quite tense under its sun-soaked roof.
Jose Aldo says the weight cut to bantamweight has been "easy"
Adam Martin - December 11, 2019
Former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo says that his weight cut to bantamweight has been “easy” ahead of his UFC 245 showdown against Marlon Moraes. Aldo surprised many in the MMA community when he announced he would be dropping down to 135lbs for the first time in his career to take on the division’s No. 1 contender Moraes at UFC 245. Aldo has admitted in the past to having a tough cut to 145lbs, so for him to drop an extra 10lbs was surprising when he first announced his intentions to do so.
Paul Felder hoping Conor McGregor stays at welterweight: 'Get him out of our way'
Mike Pendleton - December 11, 2019
Early 2020 is going to be big for the UFC lightweight top-15, as champ Khabib Nurmagomedov defends against top contender Tony Ferguson, and Paul Felder and Dan Hooker collide in a high-stakes contender bout in New Zealand. While those two fights will have significant impact on the division, two other lightweights, Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone are also scheduled to meet in January, but their fight will be in the welterweight division.
UFC rankings update: Jairzinho Rozenstruik rockets up at heavyweight
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
The official UFC rankings have been updated in the wake of last Saturday’s card in Washington, D.C., and as expected, Jairzinho Rozenstruik has rocketed up the heavyweight list after smashing Alistair Overeem in the card’s main event. Outside this huge climb from Rozenstruik, the biggest change to the new UFC rankings occurred in the flyweight division as a result of recent title challenger Liz Carmouche’s release from the promotion.
Leon Edwards responds after Tyron Woodley says 'f*ck that' to fighting in London
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
Streaking UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards was hoping to fight Tyron Woodley, the former welterweight champ, when the UFC returns to London this March. Unfortunately for Edwards, Woodley is not interested in fighting overseas.
Frankie Edgar explains why he accepted 'Korean Zombie' fight, addresses frustrated Cory Sandhagen
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
Frankie Edgar was expected to make his bantamweight debut opposite Cory Sandhagen at UFC Raleigh in late January. When he was asked to replace the injured Brian Ortega against the injured “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, however, he accepted. He’s now scheduled to meet the undead Korean in the main event of UFC Busan on December 21, while a frustrated Sandhagen has been left without the high-profile dance partner he was expecting.
Kamaru Usman makes violent prediction for Colby Covington fight
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has a violent prediction for his welterweight title fight with Colby Covington, which headlines UFC 245 this Saturday in Las Vegas. “I swear every time I think about this fight, the only way that I see it playing out is me standing over this guy while his face is full of blood,” Usman told FanSided ahead of the fight. “There’s a bunch of cuts on his face and his eyes are rolled to the back of his head and he’s trying to find out what’s going on. And there’s referees and doctors there standing over him, trying to wake him up.
Thiago Santos updates on recovery, gives timeframe for return
Mike Pendleton - December 11, 2019
Having been on the sidelines due to knee surgery since his title fight against Jon Jones at UFC 239 this past summer, Thiago Santos has finally given a timeline for when he expects to return, and he’s still got some waiting ahead. Speaking to MMA Junkie while in Washington, D.C. for the UFC’s latest fight card, Santos gave an update about where he’s at in recovery, when he expects to return, and what he plans for his return to the light heavyweight division.
UFC 245 | Irene Aldana believes win over Ketlen Vieira earns her title shot; eyes being backup for Nunes-GDR
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2019
Irene Aldana believes she is part of a No. 1 contender fight with Ketlen Vieira at UFC 245. Vieira, who is ranked No. 2 in the division, has not fought since March of 2018, so Aldana was surprised she was offered this fight.
UFC 247 loses Ovince Saint Preux vs. Ryan Spann matchup
Harry Kettle - December 11, 2019
The scheduled light heavyweight bout between Ovince Saint Preux and Ryan Spann has been canceled by the UFC. The showdown was set to take place at UFC 247 on February 8, on a card that will also feature Jon Jones vs Dominick Reyes with the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship being on the line. As you can imagine, it would’ve served as a wonderful opportunity for either “OSP” or Spann to really make an impact and put themselves into the conversation for a title shot.
UFC 245 | Pro fighters make their picks for Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski title fight
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2019
In the co-main event of UFC 245, Max Holloway will look to defend his featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski. Heading into the fight, the Hawaiian champion is a -175 favorite, while the challenger is a +145 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get the predictions for the scrap. This time around, the majority believe Max Holloway’s cardio will be too much for Volkanovski, and that the champ will defend his throne.
Jon Fitch says he can beat anyone in the UFC welterweight top 15
Adam Martin - December 11, 2019
Bellator welterweight contender Jon Fitch says that even though he’s an “old fart” he can still beat anyone in the top-15 UFC welterweight rankings. Fitch fought for the UFC between 2005 and 2013 before being unceremoniously dumped by the promotion following a loss to Demian Maia at UFC 156. Fitch ended up signing with WSOF and was the welterweight champion in WSOF and later PFL before the promotion released him and he signed with Bellator.
PHOTOS | Hulking Senegalese wrestler Oumar Kane to make his MMA debut this weekend
Alfredo Zullino - December 11, 2019
A dangerous new force is about to make his mixed martial arts debut. Undefeated Senegalese wrestler Oumar Kane, also known as “Reug Reug,” is going to fight on December 14 in the first ever ARES Fighting Championship show in Dakar, Senegal. The card will air on UFC Fight Pass.
Dana White: UFC could be 'looking at' Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor rematch 'down the line'
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, two of the most heated rivals in UFC history, both have fights booked. Nurmagomedov will defend the lightweight title against Tony Ferguson in April of the new year, while McGregor is slated to return to the cage against Donald Cerrone on January 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to UFC President Dana White, McGregor and Nurmagomedov will likely fight each other again thereafter if they win these upcoming challenges.
Coach says fans will see the Conor McGregor they 'fell in love with' at UFC 246
Natasha Hooper - December 11, 2019
Conor McGregor is scheduled to make his long-anticipated return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC 246, where he’ll take on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. The fight goes down on January 18. McGregor striking coach Owen Roddy recently appeared on the Eurobash podcast, where he explained what McGregor is doing differently to prepare for his upcoming bout.
Bryce Mitchell calls out Floyd Mayweather: 'I'll hit Floyd so damn hard he'll be able to read a book'
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2019
Bryce Mitchell is the latest MMA fighter to call out Floyd Mayweather. Yet, the Arkansas native says his issue with the boxer happened 10 years ago and he wants to fight him for it. Bryce Mitchell also says he’ll hit Mayweather so hard he’ll finally be able to read. Of course, Conor McGregor joked that the boxer couldn’t read in the lead up to their fight.
Paul Felder shares bold prediction for fight with Dan Hooker at UFC Auckland
Natasha Hooper - December 10, 2019
Paul Felder will be back in the Octagon to face rising contender, Dan Hooker in his opponent’s home turf of Auckland. The lightweight fighters will collide in the main event of the February 2020 showdown. Their intense staring contest last week was enough to get fans hyped for the upcoming event, and Paul Felder confirmed that the tension was completely real: Felder said (via MMA Junkie): “As far as intensity, that was real. I went down to New Zealand expecting a little bit of that from Dan because of how we interacted on social media. We kind of went back-to-forth a little bit. But that’s what it’s all about.