MMA News
BKFC president reveals plans to meet with Paige VanZant to discuss future: "Maybe she doesn’t want to do this anymore"
Josh Evanoff - February 16, 2023
BKFC president David Feldman is unsure what Paige Vanzant’s future in combat sports holds. ’12 Gauge’ has been out of action since her bout with Rachel Ostovich at BKFC 19 in July 2021. In that outing, Vanzant wound up being outstruck en route to a unanimous decision defeat. The loss put the UFC veteran back to 0-2 in her BFKC run, having previously lost to Britain Hart in February.
Jessica Andrade expects to earn a rematch with Zhang Weili if she wins at UFC Vegas 69: "I want to take her out to Brazil because I went to China to face her"
Cole Shelton - February 16, 2023
Jessica Andrade is hoping to earn a strawweight title shot on Saturday. Andrade has been bouncing between strawweight and flyweight and will compete at 125lbs in the main event of UFC Vegas 69 as she steps up on short notice to take on Erin Blanchfield. Andrade is coming off a decision win over Lauren Murphy and should she get past Blanchfield, she could get a title shot at flyweight, but she believes this fight can also secure her a rematch against Weili for the strawweight belt.
Henry Cejudo believes he would “overwhelm” Alexander Volkanovksi after watching his UFC 284 title fight
Susan Cox - February 16, 2023
Henry Cejudo believes he would ‘overwhelm’ Alexander Volkanovski after watching his UFC title fight. It was just this past Saturday, February 11th that featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-2 MMA) took on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA) at UFC 284 which took place in the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
UFC and Western Australia’s Combat Sports Commission butt heads over I.V. legality
Susan Cox - February 16, 2023
The UFC and Western Australia’s Combat Sports Commission are butting heads over I.V. legality. What started out as allegations made by Dan Hooker concerning Islam Makhachev cheating at UFC 284 is now getting attention on both sides of the aisle.
Coach Eugene Bareman reacts to accusations made against Islam Makhachev following UFC 284: “Something’s going on there, we just can’t reliably say what it is”
Susan Cox - February 16, 2023
Coach Eugene Bareman is reacting to the accusations made against Islam Makhachev following UFC 284. Last weekend saw Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA) vs Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA) battle it out for the lightweight championship title. The result was a unanimous decision win for Makhachev.
Michael Chandler names fellow UFC lightweight as the “most talented striker” in the world
Lewis Simpson - February 16, 2023
Michael Chandler has named his fellow UFC lightweight competitor as the “most talented striker” in the world. Since bursting onto the scene in 2021, Chandler has exchanged blows inside the octagon with the most skilled lightweights in the sport.
Photo | Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou looks massive ahead of his next chapter in combat sports
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2023
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou looks absolutely ripped as he prepares to enter the next chapter of his career. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Francis Ngannou would be leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Despite months of negotiation, he couldn’t come to terms on a new deal with the promotion.
Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shares timeline for his eventual UFC retirement: “I’m not gonna be here in five years”
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2023
Israel Adesanya has given an insight into how much longer he plans to be active in mixed martial arts before retiring. At UFC 287 in April, Israel Adesanya will attempt to reclaim the UFC middleweight championship. He’ll do so by going head to head with Alex Pereira, the man who won the strap from him back at UFC 281 last November.
Bellator returns to Hawaii in April for double-header events including two title fights
Harry Kettle - February 16, 2023
Bellator is set to return to Hawaii for the fourth time in five years this April, as per a report from KHON2. While the Ultimate Fighting Championship may not have made Hawaii its home, the same can’t be said for Bellator. Over the course of the last few years, the promotion has made a real effort to build a following there.
Zac Pauga plans to "test" Jordan Wright's cardio at UFC Vegas 69, expects to "redeem" himself after KO loss: "He's a super dangerous fighter"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
Zac Pauga wasn’t sure if he would get to make his UFC debut. Pauga competed on TUF 30 and lost in the finale by KO to Mohammed Usman. Although before the fight, Pauga signed a contract should he win or lose the contest, he still wasn’t guaranteed to get a UFC bout.
Jon Jones refutes notion that Ciryl Gane will be the toughest striker he’s ever faced: “I fought many guys who were nasty on their feet”
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
Jon Jones doesn’t believe Ciryl Gane will be the toughest striker he has ever faced. Jones is set to take on Gane in the main event of UFC 285 on March 4 for the vacant heavyweight title. It’s an intriguing matchup as it will be Jones’ heavyweight debut and many believe Gane will pose a lot of problems on the feet for Jones which he doesn’t think is true.
Michael Chandler still hopeful Conor McGregor fight happens at welterweight despite Dana White's comments: "I'm not even close to 155 right now"
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
Michael Chandler still wants his upcoming fight against Conor McGregor to be at welterweight. Chandler is set to coach TUF against McGregor and the two will then fight later this year. When the news first dropped, reports came out that the scrap would be at welterweight, and Chandler later confirmed that. Yet, Dana White said on Pat McAfee’s show the fight would be at lightweight, which the former Bellator lightweight champ isn’t a fan of.
Sean Strickland blasts Jon Jones after Bobcat incident at home: "Bro come on, God don't like you. You're going hell bro"
Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2023
UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland doesn’t appear to be a fan of Jon Jones. ‘Bones’ got a bit of a scare last night, as he revealed on Twitter. The former light-heavyweight champion, who is slated to return against Ciryl Gane next month, stated that a Bobcat had entered his home.
Alexander Hernandez feeling happy about return to lightweight after brutal featherweight weight cut: "Dude, my d*ck didn't even work in the morning"
Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2023
UFC lightweight contender Alexander Hernandez is grateful to be back at 155-pounds. ‘The Great Ape’ has been out of action since his clash with Billy Quarantillo last December. The bout was an important one for Hernandez, as it was his promotional debut at 145-pounds. Sadly, the featherweight debut didn’t go the way the 30-year-old had hoped.
Bo Nickal believes he matches up perfectly with both Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya: "It wouldn’t go well for them"
Josh Evanoff - February 15, 2023
UFC middleweight prospect Bo Nickal feels confident against anyone in the division. ‘The Allen Assassin’ has been out of action since his bout with Donovan Beard at Dana White’s Contender Series 56. In his second appearance on the show, Nickal dominated. He quickly earned a first-round submission victory, earning a UFC contract in the process.
John Kavanagh believes Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler "could resemble" the Chad Mendes fight
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
John Kavanagh thinks Conor McGregor’s return fight against Michael Chandler could play out similarly to his scrap against Chad Mendes. McGregor is set to coach TUF against Chandler and the two will then fight later this year. It’s a massive fight, and many expect it to be a striking fight. However, Kavanagh believes Chandler could try and wrestle McGregor early as Mendes previously did at UFC 189. But, even if Chandler does wrestle, Kavanagh is confident McGregor will get his hand raised.
John Dodson expects to "break" Jarod Grant in the first round at KnuckleMania 3, plans to be BKFC and RIZIN champ by end of 2023
Cole Shelton - February 15, 2023
John Dodson was excited when he got the call to be on KnuckleMania 3. Dodson returned to MMA on New Year’s Eve and scored a first-round TKO at RIZIN 40 as the former UFC title challenger inked a multi-fight deal with the promotion. Although he is signed with RIZIN, Dodson remains on the BKFC roster and wanted to be part of KnuckleMania 3, and he got his wish.
Ariel Helwani believes USADA’s reputation is at stake following latest accusations from Dan Hooker: “We need to figure this out”
Susan Cox - February 15, 2023
Ariel Helwani believes that USADA’s reputation is at stake following the latest accusations from Dan Hooker. It was this past weekend at UFC 284 that Dan Hooker was in attendance at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia to witness and cheer for Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA) taking on Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA) for the lightweight title. The result was a unanimous decision win for Makhachev.