MMA News
Dana White gives promising update on men's flyweight division
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2019
There has long been reason to suspect that the UFC men’s flyweight division is doomed. From the promotion’s decision to part ways with former flyweight champion and bona fide MMA legend Demetrious Johnson to its subsequent release of a slew of top flyweights, the signs have not be good. Yet Dana White says the division isn’t going anywhere. Despite the fact that the UFC’s flyweight purge has left the division looking like a ghost town, populated by more tumbleweeds than actual fighters, the UFC boss says the division is staying.
Marlon Moraes issues statement after loss to Henry Cejudo
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 238, former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes stepped into the Octagon for his first UFC title shot. Though the Brazilian had some success early, pelting his foe Henry Cejudo with heavy artillery in round one, he ultimately faded in the second, and was stopped by a volley of ground strikes in the third.
What's next for the stars of UFC 238?
Cole Shelton - June 9, 2019
Last night, the Octagon returned to Chicago, Illinois with the stacked UFC 238. There, two titles were on the line while Tony Ferguson was taking on Donald Cerrone in a key lightweight contender bout. Ultimately, Henry Cejudo became the fourth person to hold two UFC titles at the same time, as he TKO’d Marlon Moraes. In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko knocked out Jessica Eye with a head kick to retain her flyweight belt. And, Ferguson TKO’d Cerrone via doctor stoppage at the end of the second round.
Jessica Eye issues statement after knockout loss to Valentina Shevchenko
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2019
On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed UFC 238 card in Chicago, Jessica Eye received her first shot at UFC gold opposite flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. Unfortunately for the American fighter and her dedicated fans, this title bid did not go as she planned. After being soundly out-grappled in the first round, Eye was brutally knocked out by the champion in the second. This head-kick induced beheading was an early front-runner for 2019 Knockout of the Year honors, and immediately stands out as a knockout we’ll be seeing on highlight reels for years to come.
Cruz, Faber and Garbrandt respond to callout from Henry Cejudo
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2019
Shortly after Henry Cejudo finished Marlon Moraes to become a two-division UFC champion, he laid out his “hit list,” naming three fighters he hopes to battle in the near future. Despite the emergence of new contenders like Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling, Cejudo said he’s hoping for bouts with former UFC bantamweight champs Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt, and Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. All of these fighters have already responded to the new bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo, and all three seem to up for it in theory.
Dana White shares plan for Tony Ferguson, 'Cowboy' after UFC 238
Tom Taylor - June 9, 2019
At UFC 238, fan favorite lightweight contenders Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone met in an incredibly compelling matchup that looked like it would produce the next opponent for the winner of the upcoming UFC 242 lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier. In the end, Ferguson won this fight by TKO when the doctor deemed Cowboy unfit to continue between the second and third rounds. The issue was Cowboy’s right eye, which swelled up like a balloon after he blew his nose.
UFC 238 | Pros react after Henry Cejudo TKO’s Marlon Moraes
Chris Taylor - June 8, 2019
Reigning UFC flyweight champ Henry Cejudo moved up in weight to square off with Marlon Moraes for the promotions vacant bantamweight title at UFC 238. The title fight served as the event headliner tonight in Chicago.
UFC 238 results: Henry Cejudo stops Marlon Moraes (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019
In the main event of the stacked UFC 238 card, reigning UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo stepped up to the bantamweight division to battle streaking contender Marlon Moraes for the vacant title. The bantamweight title was left vacant when former champion TJ Dillashaw was stripped after testing positive for EPO.
UFC 238 results: Valentina Shevchenko destroys Eye with head kick (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019
The co-main event of UFC 238 saw reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko attempt the first defense of her title opposite a significant underdog in Jessica Eye. Shevchenko earned the title in December, when she outpointed former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk to assume the division’s vacant throne. Prior to this title win, the Kyrgyzstani striker had great success at bantamweight, even battling the champion Amanda Nunes to a close decision loss.
Pros react to Donald Cerrone vs. Tony Ferguson at UFC 238
Chris Taylor - June 8, 2019
A key lightweight bout featuring a former interim title holder Tony Ferguson squaring off with Donald Cerrone took place at tonight’s UFC 238 pay-per-view event. Ferguson was returning to action for the first time since October’s UFC 229 event in Las Vegas, where he defeated former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis via TKO.
UFC 238 results: Tony Ferguson defeats Donald Cerrone via doctor stoppage (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019
The middle bout of the UFC 238 main card — and perhaps the most anticipated feature of the card overall — occurred in the lightweight division, where top contenders Tony Ferguson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone met in a contest that had fans salivating from the moment it was announced. Tony Ferguson entered this matchup on an incredible, 11-fight win-streak. “El Cucuy” has long stood out as the top contender in the UFC lightweight division, but thanks to a long series of bad breaks, has yet to receive a shot at the undisputed title. He looked to change that in this fight.
UFC 238 results: Petr Yan defeats Jimmie Rivera (highlights)
Tom Taylor - June 8, 2019
In the first of two bantamweight bouts on the UFC 238 main card, New Jersey’s Jimmie Rivera looked to slow the meteoric rise of Russia’s Petr Yan. “No Mercy” Yan entered the fight with a 12-1 overall record, and a solid 4-0 mark in the UFC. In his last fight, he picked up the biggest win of his career, outpointing former flyweight title challenger John Dodson for an impressive decision triumph.
Chris Weidman moves up to 205lbs
Adam Martin - June 8, 2019
One of the UFC’s former middleweight champions, Chris Weidman, is moving up a weight class the next time we see him compete. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN.com, Weidman will move up to 205lbs for his next fight. The former champ announced the move up to the light heavyweight division himself, and said he plans on returning to the Octagon this fall.
Dana White reacts to Sage Northcutt's ONE Championship loss
Thomas Taylor - June 8, 2019
After a lengthy stint in the UFC, “Super” Sage Northcutt now calls ONE Championship home. Unfortunately for the American and his fans, his first bout in the ONE ring did not go as planned, as he was stopped in less than 30 seconds by the ferocious Cosmo Alexandre. Speaking recently to TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, UFC President Dana White reacted to Northcutt’s tough ONE debut. The UFC boss’s take? That Northcutt should retire from MMA.
Dana White comments on decision to release Elias Theodorou and Justin Willis
Cole Shelton - June 8, 2019
Two weeks ago, the UFC made a surprising decision to release ranked middleweight Elias Theodorou and ranked heavyweight Justin Willis. Both fighters had success inside the Octagon but were coming off of lackluster losses. This week, UFC President, Dana White explained why the Las Vegas-based promotion decided to release the two fighters.
Dana White says UFC is opening PIs in Mexico and Puerto Rico, other new territories to follow
Adam Martin - June 7, 2019
UFC president Dana White has always sought to make MMA a global sport, and the opening of new Performance Institutes all across the world will certainly help achieve that goal. In an interview with hosts CM Punk and Dave Ross on Stadium, Dana White said he’s headed to China next week to open up a new PI there, but said that’s just the beginning.
Michael Bisping 'surprised' Urijah Faber is returning
Cole Shelton - June 7, 2019
UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Sacramento to take on Ricky Simon. “The California Kid” last fought back in December of 2016 where he beat Brad Pickett. Although Faber has been talking about returning for quite some time, news of the announcement surprised his fellow Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. The Englishman was surprised given how much success the 40-year-old is having outside of fighting and believes he doesn’t need the money.
Dana White: 'Nobody cared whatsoever about Demetrious Johnson'
Adam Martin - June 7, 2019
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is generally regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history, but the criticism directed towards him during his run in the Octagon was that he wasn’t a draw for fans. Now a member of ONE Championship, Johnson was the most dominant flyweight and arguably the most dominant fighter in MMA period between 2012 and 2018. However, for whatever reason, Johnson just never appealed to fans as a box-office draw, with his pay-per-view numbers being lower than some other champions during his time in the UFC.