MMA News
Paulo Costa says Israel Adesanya will be the first 'kill' on his record
Adam Martin - October 4, 2019
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has come on the offensive against interim champ Israel Adesanya. Costa says he badly wants to fight Adesanya after UFC 243, and he wants to put the pain on him. So much so that Costa says he wants Adesanya to be the first “kill” on his MMA record. Here’s what Costa wrote on Twitter in response to Adesanya recently calling him an “overly-inflated balloon animal.”
Megan Anderson opens up on mental health struggles
Tom Taylor - October 4, 2019
As Megan Anderson gears up for a UFC 243 showdown Zarah Fairn Dos Santos, she’s opening up on the mental health struggles she’s dealt with over the course of her career. “I’m very hard on myself,” Anderson told MMA Junkie at UFC 243 media day. “I’ve always been open about that and about mental health issues and that kind of stuff. So I am my own worst critic and have kind of doubted my skills for a long time.”
VIDEO | Brawl breaks out at Brave CF 27 weigh-ins
Tom Taylor - October 4, 2019
Brave CF 27, scheduled for Friday in Abu Dhabi, will feature a welterweight title rematch between champion Abdoul Abdouraguimov and challenger Jarrah Al-Selawe. When the pair squared off at the card’s weigh-ins, all hell broke loose. What started with a bit of shoving — something we often see at weigh-in ceremonies — quickly devolved into an all-out brawl. See it below:
Miesha Tate says Holly Holm will 'definitely' be in the Boxing Hall Of Fame
Mike Pendleton - October 4, 2019
Miesha Tate achieved a career dream when she defeated Holly Holm at UFC 196 to become UFC women’s bantamweight champion for the first time in her career. Now, she’s giving major props to her former foe. During an episode of MMA Tonight with host Ryan McKinnell on Sirius XM, Tate was asked about Holly Holm being on the ballot for the 2020 Boxing Hall Of Fame class, and while Laila Ali headlines the strong class which includes 12 female boxers, Tate believes Holm should definitely be inducted.
RIZIN boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara interested in signing free agent Sergio Pettis
Tom Taylor - October 4, 2019
Sergio Pettis was scheduled to battle Kai Kara-France at UFC 245, but was pulled from the matchup when it came to light that his current UFC contract has concluded. Pettis is now exploring free agency, and from the sounds of it, he can expect some interest from Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation. Speaking to BJPENN.com’s Tom Taylor, RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara commented on Pettis’ free agency. He believes the long-time UFC flyweight contender could be a great addition to the RIZIN bantamweight division.
Israel Adesanya reacts to Jon Jones' Twitter attack
Natasha Hooper - October 4, 2019
During an interview with Brett Okamoto, Israel Adesanya reacted to the barrage of insults he received from Jon Jones on Twitter this week. Recently, Israel Adesanya made several comments about a potential octagon showdown against the light heavyweight champion. Jon Jones’ was not impressed with the call out and attacked the 30-year-old in a heated rant.
Eddie Hearn on Conor McGregor partnership: 'We can do it better'
Natasha Hooper - October 4, 2019
During a media event regarding the upcoming Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua 2 card, Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn spoke highly of Conor McGregor and pitched a future partnership with “The Notorious.” In an interview with Seconds Out, Jamal Niaz, mentioned Conor McGregor. Hearn spoke highly of the former two-division champion.
Israel Adesanya discusses why he's more fit for main event pressure than Robert Whittaker
Mike Pendleton - October 3, 2019
With UFC 243 right around the corner, current UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will return to action, after being away for 16 months in a title unification fight against interim champion Israel Adesanya. In what many are calling the biggest fight in Australia and New Zealand history, the two fighters have been given star treatment by the UFC and their host venue of Marvel Stadium in the build-up to the fight. With plenty of media, appearances, and attention being given to both fighters, “The Last Stylebender”, Adesanya, believes he’s built for the pressure of a main event this meaningful.
Bellator announces return to Hawaii featuring Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and A.J. McKee
Mike Pendleton - October 3, 2019
Bellator MMA is headed back to Hawaii, and they’re bringing two of their bright young stars with them. KHON2 in Hawaii was first to report that Bellator will be returning to Hawaii on December 21st at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Oahu, Hawaii. The card will feature Bellator’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane who will attempt to defend her flyweight title against Kate Jackson who has a 11-3-1 record in her professional career, and is also a former competitor of The Ultimate Fighter Season 23. Jackson is riding a two fight winning streak and is 3-1 since joining Bellator.
Israel Adesanya takes a shot at Yoel Romero in latest warning to Robert Whittaker
Christopher Taylor - October 3, 2019
Current UFC interim middleweight champ Israel Adesanya has taken a shot at Yoel Romero in his latest warning to reigning division kingpin Robert Whittaker. Israel Adesanya (17-0 MMA) will square off with Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA) in the headliner of this weekend’s highly anticipated UFC 243 pay-per-view event from Australia.
Gunnar Nelson issues statement following loss to Gilbert Burns
Natasha Hooper - October 3, 2019
Fan favorite Gunnar Nelson collided with Gilbert Burns in a welterweight bout at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night Copenhagen event. It marked the second time in a year that the Icelandic warrior had fought in Europe. Gunnar Nelson faced Leon Edwards at UFC London in March and left the Octagon with another loss and a broken orbital bone after receiving a nasty elbow. After healing from his injury and getting back to training, ‘Gunni’ was inked to fight Thiago Alves. However, Alves withdrew due to injury, leaving Gilbert Burns to fill in for the fight.
Arjan Bhullar hopes to earn ONE Championship title shot with win over Mauro Cerilli
Tom Taylor - October 3, 2019
Arjan Bhullar was expected to make his ONE Championship debut against Mauro Cerilli back in August. Unfortunately, this plan was nixed at the very last minute when Cerilli was forced out of the contest with a medical issue. Luckily, this cloud turned out to have a silver lining.
VIDEO | Darrion Caldwell caldwell confronts Patricio Freire backstage at Bellator 228
Cole Shelton - October 3, 2019
Darrion Caldwell was not happy that Patricio Freire did not pick him to fight in the Selection Show following Bellator 228. Instead, the featherweight champion decided to fight Pedro Carvalho, leaving Caldwell matched up with Adam Borics on the other side of the bracket. Following the event, Darrion Caldwell went to Patricio Freire’s locker room and confronted the champ about not picking him. The entire encounter was caught by Bellator.
Al Iaquinta wants to prove he's a better fighter and better real estate agent than Dan Hooker
Adam Martin - October 3, 2019
UFC lightweight contender Al Iaquinta says part of the motivation for fighting Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 243 is to prove who the better real estate agent is. Iaquinta — who does real estate on the side in Long Island — was interviewed by MMAjunkie before this Saturday’s UFC 243 card and said he recently heard that Hooker also does real estate in Oceania. “Raging Al” said that he wants to beat Hooker to prove who the better real estate agent is, not to mention the better fighter.
Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya get the Marvel Comics treatment ahead of UFC 243
Mike Pendleton - October 3, 2019
As UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya prepare to unify their titles in the main event of UFC 243, the anticipation is high. There have been many who believe this fight will break UFC records for highest attendance, and it is widely considered the biggest fight in Oceanic history given the pair’s ties to Australia and New Zealand. While both Whittaker and Adesanya are confident heading into this matchup, the UFC has set this fight up to be a spectacle for those in Australia as they have Marvel Stadium playing host to UFC 243.
Firas Zahabi: Tyron Woodley has added 'a new dimension to his game'
Tom Taylor - October 3, 2019
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has been putting work at Tristar in Montreal, Quebec. According to the gym’s head coach, Firas Zahabi, Woodley has been making strides. Speaking to MMA Junkie., Zahabi discussed his recent work with Woodley. Apparently, the former champ has been kicking convention and added some new weapons to his arsenal.
Sergio Pettis to test free agency, UFC 245 fight put on hold
Mike Pendleton - October 3, 2019
Sergio Pettis was supposed to be fighting at UFC 245 in December, but those plans have reportedly been put on hold. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Pettis, who was scheduled to fight Kai Kara-France on December 14 in Las Vegas, will reportedly test free agency as his current deal with the UFC has expired.
Khabib Nurmagomedov willing to rematch Conor McGregor in Moscow
Tom Taylor - October 3, 2019
Khabib Nurmagomedov has previously been opposed to the idea of a rematch with Conor McGregor, who he defeated by submission in late 2018. Apparently, however, the lightweight champion has changed his tune. That’s according to his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. According to the elder Nurmagomedov, Khabib is willing to rematch McGregor — if McGregor is willing to undertake the challenge on Russian soil, in Moscow.