MMA News
WATCH | Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo shove each other in heated final faceoff ahead of UFC 288
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023
Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo will finally settle their differences on Saturday night. The lead-up to the UFC 288 main event, which sees Sterling defending his bantamweight title against Cejudo, has been full of trash-talking. The two have taken countless shots at one another and even Cejudo’s team has gotten into the trash-talking to add to the hype of the scrap.
Dana White takes aim at Jake Paul for boxing Nate Diaz: "As soon as he loses, he goes back to a 40-year-old MMA fighter"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023
Dana White isn’t a fan of Jake Paul boxing Nate Diaz. On August 5 in Dallas, Texas, Paul and Diaz are set to headline a boxing pay-per-view on DAZN. It will be a highly-anticipated fight but White doesn’t have much of an interest in it. As well, he says it is funny that once Paul loses to an actual boxer he goes back to fighting 40-year-old MMA fighters.
Henry Cejudo roasts Aljamain Sterling during interview with Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 288: “After this he’s got a career dude. He’s got a career in Hollywood”
Lewis Simpson - May 5, 2023
Prior to his retirement in 2020, Henry Cejudo mastered the art of getting under his opponent’s skin, and ahead of his return to the octagon at UFC 288, the 36-year-old is still utilizing the art of mental warfare in the build-up. Saturday, May 6, in Newark, New Jersey, Cejudo is set to make his return to competition at UFC 288 after a three-year hiatus from the sport. The Olympic gold medalist closed the curtain on his career in 2020 after a successful bantamweight title defence over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.
Aljamain Sterling reacts after being pestered by Henry Cejudo’s team at the UFC 288 weigh-ins: “The disrespect was so unprofessional”
Lewis Simpson - May 5, 2023
Aljamain Sterling has responded after he was pestered by Henry Cejudo’s team at the UFC 288 weigh-ins earlier today. As Sterling took to the scale ahead of his bantamweight title fight with Cejudo, the mind-games began for team Cejudo. The Olympian gold medalist’s team pursued to throw chants towards Sterling during his weigh-in, which saw the defending champion hit 134-pounds.
Ben Rothwell says Josh Copeland is in the top-three "best chins" he's ever fought, eyes title fight against Alan Belcher after BKFC 41: "I'll see you in the ring and show you the truth"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023
Ben Rothwell is glad he was able to go a couple of rounds at BKFC 41. Rothwell was supposed to take on Josh Watson after his upset knockout win over Greg Hardy, but unfortunately, that fight never happened. Luckily for Rothwell, Josh Copeland stepped up which he was pleased with as he said it was a more anticipated fight.
Sean O’Malley responds to recent jabs from former UFC champion Henry Cejudo: “I have four houses and I am a little lesbian”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2023
Sean O’Malley has responded after Henry Cejudo hurled a verbal dig at him during the UFC 288 pre-fight press conference. During the presser, Cejudo referred to O’Malley as a “homeless lesbian” and said he’d be dedicating his upcoming UFC Bantamweight Championship fight to him. Cejudo will challenge Alajmain Sterling for the gold in the main event of UFC 288 this Saturday night (May 6).
Henry Cejudo explains why he would never train former UFC champion Conor McGregor: “He’s offended too many of my good friends”
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2023
Henry Cejudo believes Conor McGregor can make significant improvements to his game, but don’t expect the two to share a gym anytime soon. Cejudo and McGregor have traded barbs over the years, and it’s easy to see why. After all, Cejudo’s manager is Ali Abdelaziz, someone who McGregor has a personal beef with. McGregor has also slammed UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, someone Cejudo considers to be a good friend.
Julianna Pena releases statement after pulling out of UFC 289 title fight against Amanda Nunes: "Looking forward to fighting the winner to regain my belt"
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2023
Julianna Pena has issued a lengthy statement after pulling out of her UFC 289 title fight against Amanda Nunes. Pena was set to headline UFC 289 against Nunes in their trilogy match for the women’s bantamweight belt. Yet, this week, Dana White announced that Pena suffered a broken rib and was forced to withdraw.
Daniel Cormier explains why former UFC title challenger Jorge Masvidal should stay retired: “He hasn't ever been the best in the world”
Susan Cox - May 5, 2023
Daniel Cormier is explaining why former UFC title challenger Jorge Masvidal should stay retired. Jorge Masvidal (35-17 MMA) announced his retirement following his unanimous decision loss to Gilbert Burns (22-5 MMA) last month at UFC 287. It was to be ‘Gamebred‘s 4th consecutive loss in the Octagon.
UFC 288: ‘Sterling vs. Cejudo’ Weigh-in Results: 2 Fighters Miss Weight, 1 Fight Cancelled
Susan Cox - May 5, 2023
UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo takes place tomorrow, Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The bantamweight championship main event will feature current champ Aljamain Sterling (22-3 MMA) vs. former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo (16-2 MMA).
Kron Gracie explains why one-round fights would “change the sport for the better” ahead of UFC 288
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2023
UFC 288 fighter Kron Gracie believes that the sport of MMA would benefit from having one-round fights as opposed to the current structure. Fight fans have grown accustomed to seeing fights that last for three five-minute rounds or five five-minute rounds. In the Pride FC days, the first round would last 10 minutes, with the second and third rounds lasting five minutes each for Japanese events. If the bout was contested within a Grand Prix, that fight would have two rounds, with the first being scheduled for 10 minutes and the second lasting five minutes.
UFC 288 is down to thirteen fights following late cancellation
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 5, 2023
Another injury has impacted the UFC 288 card, but this time it has led to a fight cancellation. The UFC has announced that the planned bantamweight clash between Daniel Santos and Johnny Munoz Jr. is now off this Saturday’s UFC 288 event. The announcement notes that Santos suffered an injury, but specifics were not revealed.
Dana White reveals backup fighter for Amanda Nunes vs Irene Aldana at UFC 289
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023
Dana White has revealed there will be a backup fighter for the UFC 289 main event between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana. On Tuesday, White revealed that Pena was out of the UFC 289 main event against Nunes and Aldana has stepped in on short notice. Aldana, meanwhile, was supposed to headline the May 20 event against Raquel Pennington, so with that fight off, White revealed Pennington will be the backup fighter for June’s title bout.
WATCH | Kron Gracie leaves UFC 288 poster signing early due to Henry Cejudo: "When he's done, let me know"
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023
Kron Gracie is clearly not a fan of former UFC ‘champ champ’ Henry Cejudo. On fight week, fighters have plenty of obligations including signing the fight posters. During that time, often two fighters sign it together and that was the case with Gracie and Cejudo. As the two began signing posters, Cejudo asked Gracie if Nate Diaz was going to come to the fight which Gracie said no.
Aljamain Sterling believes he's still chasing Dominick Cruz as the bantamweight GOAT even with a win over Henry Cejudo at UFC 288
Cole Shelton - May 4, 2023
Aljamain Sterling thinks Dominick Cruz is still the bantamweight GOAT. Sterling is looking for his third title defense – which would set the record – in the main event of UFC 288 as he takes on the former champ, Henry Cejudo. Even if Sterling wins and sets the record for most title defenses, he still doesn’t think he would pass Cruz as the bantamweight GOAT but is even honored to be in the discussion.
Ali Abdelaziz takes aim at Cris Cyborg for re-signing with Bellator: “I knew all along”
Zain Bando - May 4, 2023
Thursday afternoon, Bellator MMA officials announced the re-signing of women’s featherweight champion, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, to a multi-fight deal. Justino had previously been linked to a potential super-fight with former multiple-time PFL champion, Kayla Harrison. Now, with Cyborg returning to the Bellator cage to defend her throne, a Harrison fight seems too far-fetched.
Jorge Masvidal's father arrested for allegedly shooting someone at the retired UFC fighter's home
Chris Taylor - May 4, 2023
Jorge Masvidal’s father has been taken into police custody for allegedly shooting someone after an argument at the retired UFC fighter’s home. The news was first reported by Andy Slater, who shared the following information on Twitter:
Dana White reacts to Conor McGregor squaring off with Mike Perry at BKFC 41: "I also saw him pounding a bottle of Proper Twelve"
Jeffrey Walter - May 4, 2023
UFC President Dana White has shared his thoughts on Conor McGregor squaring off with Mike Perry at last weekend’s BKFC 41 event. McGregor was in the crowd for last weekend’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in Denver, Colorado.