MMA News
Michael Chandler issues statement after booking coaching role opposite Conor McGregor on TUF 31
Chris Taylor - February 4, 2023
Michael Chandler sent out a video shortly after news broke that he would be coaching TUF 31 opposite Conor McGregor. Earlier this morning UFC President Dana White took to social media where he announced that McGregor (22-6 MMA) and Chandler (23-8 MMA) have agreed to coach season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, which begins on Tuesday May 30, 2023.
Dana White announces Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will be the coaches of TUF Season 31
Chris Taylor - February 4, 2023
UFC President Dana White took to social media this morning to announce that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will serve as the coaches of TUF 31. According to the UFC boss, McGregor (22-6 MMA) and Chandler (23-8 MMA) will fight at the end of the season with a date and venue still to be determined.
Cody Garbrandt gets replacement for UFC 285 after Julio Arce withdraws due to injury
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2023
Cody Garbrandt will still be fighting at UFC 285. Garbrandt was set to face Julio Arce on March 4 at UFC 285 but it was revealed Arce suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw. It was then reported Garbrandt would remain on the card and now an opponent has been found as according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Trevin Jones has stepped up to face the former bantamweight champ at UFC 285.
Ali Abdelaziz reveals UFC wanted Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad as Ultimate Fighter coaches but 'Chaos' declined: "Nobody knows where he’s at"
Josh Evanoff - February 3, 2023
According to Ali Abdelaziz, the UFC wanted Belal Muhammad and Colby Covington to coach The Ultimate Fighter. ‘Remember the Name’ has been out of action since his victory over Sean Brady in October. With that performance, Muhammad increased his undefeated streak to nine. During his current winning streak, he’s defeated names such as Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and Demian Maia.
Erin Blanchfield vs. Taila Santos tabbed as new headliner for UFC Vegas 69 on February 18th
Josh Evanoff - February 3, 2023
There’s a new main event for UFC Vegas 69 later this month. The card is slated for February 18th and will be held at the UFC Apex. The card was originally slated to be headlined by a bantamweight clash between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera. However, those plans have now changed.
Eddie Hearn reveals talks with Nate Diaz as Stockton slugger targets clash with Canelo Alvarez: "Nate Diaz can box"
Josh Evanoff - February 3, 2023
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn isn’t ruling out Nate Diaz vs. Canelo Alvarez. The Stockton slugger fought out his UFC contract last September, as he defeated Tony Ferguson. Immediately following the victory, Diaz teased that he would move to the boxing ring next. However, he also didn’t rule out a possible return to the octagon.
Islam Makhachev says Australia doesn't have wrestling, Alexander Volkanovski fires back: "I was actually the national champion"
Cole Shelton - February 3, 2023
Islam Makhachev doesn’t think Alexander Volkanovski will be able to keep up with his wrestling. In the main event of UFC 284, Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title for the first time in Australia against Volkanovski. It’s an intriguing matchup but ahead of the fight, Makhachev is confident in his skills as he doesn’t think highly of Volkanovski’s wrestling ability.
Report | Manny Pacquiao set to take on Kota Ibushi in Japan
Susan Cox - February 3, 2023
Manny Pacquiao is set to take on Kota Ibushi in Japan. Yes, a recent report from Tokyo Sports indicates that the Boxing Hall of Famer, Pacquiao is set to match up with Kota Ibushi in his debut with the Japanese MMA promotion RIZIN.
Islam Makhachev wants to prove his striking skills with a KO of Alex Volkanovski, reveals who he wants to fight after UFC 284
Susan Cox - February 3, 2023
Islam Makhachev wants to prove his striking skills with a KO of Alex Volkanovski. It will be Islam Makhachev (23-1 MMA) vs Alexander Volkanovski (25-1 MMA) in the lightweight main event on Saturday, February 11th at UFC 284. With the championship on the line the two fighters will battle it out in the Octagon for the ultimate prize.
Nate Diaz sounds off on Anthony Smith over his assessment of Dana White’s Power Slap league
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2023
Nate Diaz has gone off on Anthony Smith over his recent praise for Dana White’s Power Slap league. There’s been a whole lot of talk as of late surrounding slap fighting and Dana White’s new Power Slap venture. While many have criticized it, others have welcomed this new entry into the madness of combat sports.
Islam Makhachev expresses disappointment in the lack of promotion for his UFC 284 title fight with Alex Volkanovski
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2023
Islam Makhachev has expressed his concern at the lack of promotion for his UFC 284 main event against Alex Volkanovski. Next weekend in Australia, the UFC will host a fascinating main event clash between Islam Makhachev and Alex Volkanovski. The meeting will see the lightweight and featherweight champion collide for the strap at 155 pounds.
Daniel Cormier warns Colby Covington that he needs to stay active to remain relevant: “He is in no man’s land out on an island by himself”
Harry Kettle - February 3, 2023
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has issued a warning to Colby Covington regarding his status in the welterweight division. Last March, Colby Covington put an end to his rivalry with Jorge Masvidal thanks to a dominant decision win over ‘Gamebred’. However, just a few weeks later, Masvidal opted to attack Colby at a steakhouse in Miami, Florida.
Roy Jones Jr. expresses interest in exhibition fight with MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko: “We have already somehow negotiated on this subject”
Zain Bando - February 2, 2023
Fedor Emelianenko will enter an MMA cage for what will presumably be his final fight — a heavyweight championship rematch with former UFC light heavyweight and TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 Saturday. ‘Darth’ took down Emelianenko with a TKO finish in their first encounter a few years back. A victory for the Arizona native will seal the deal on one of Bellator’s biggest rivalries and solidify Bader’s place as one of the best fighters in promotional history.
Max Rohskopf glad he's getting thrown "right into the mix" at lightweight at Bellator 290, says he doesn't "need to prove anything to anyone"
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Max Rohskopf will finally make his Bellator debut on Saturday at Bellator 290. Rohskopf was supposed to make his debut last October but on the day of the fight, he was scratched from the card after not being cleared by the commission. Rohskopf was frustrated by that as he says he was cleared by three separate doctors to compete.
Bellator Middleweight Rankings: What can we expect in 2023?
bjpenndotcom - February 2, 2023
It’s the start of the year 2023 and Bellator is already kicking off the year with one of the most exciting matches in the Middleweight division. The fighters are ready to score up a notch in their ranking or defend their championship belts! Bellator 290 is fast approaching and is set to showcase 2 World Title Bouts on February 4, 2023, in KIA Forum, Los Angeles, California USA. The current Middleweight Champion, Johnny Eblen will be defending his championship belt against the current number 3 in the middleweight ranking, Anatoly Tokov. Johnny Eblen snatched the middleweight championship belt against the former champion, Gegard Mousasi in a unanimous decision fight in Bellator 282. On the other hand, Anatoly Tokov won over Muhammad Abdullah in dominant technical knockout punches in the first round of the same event, Bellator 282.
PFL announces main and co-main events for first three regular-season fight cards including the debuts of Shane Burgos and Thiago Santos
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced its main and co-main events for its first three regular-season fight cards of 2023. PFL will be returning on April 1 with the other two events being on April 7 and 14, with all three fight cards taking place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Along with announcing its first three fight cards, PFL announced the main and co-main events for the upcoming events.
Adam Fugitt believes he proved he "deserves" to be in the UFC with short notice fight, eyes KO win over Yusaku Kinoshita at UFC Vegas 68
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Adam Fugitt believes UFC Vegas 68 is his true Octagon debut. Fugitt stepped up on short notice back at UFC 277 and suffered a third-round TKO loss to Michael Morales. However, he was a massive underdog in the fight and had some success early on which he believes proves he belongs in the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Alexander Volkanovski doesn't want the narrative of Islam Makhachev to change if he wins at UFC 284: "Just remember what you’re saying he is now"
Cole Shelton - February 2, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski wants people to remember how highly they thought of Islam Makhachev once UFC 284 is over and done. Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title for the first time in the main event of UFC 284 in Perth, Australia, against the featherweight champ in Volkanovski. It’s a massive fight as it’s pound-for-pound number one vs. number two, but many fans and analysts aren’t giving Volkanovski much of a chance.