MMA News
UFC 281 Results: Weili Zhang stops Carla Esparza in Round 2 (Video)
Chris Taylor - November 12, 2022
UFC 281 Results: Dan Hooker stops Claudio Puelles in Round 2 (Video)
Chris Taylor - November 12, 2022
Tonight’s UFC 281 pay-per-view main card kicks off with a lightweight fight between Dan Hooker and Claudio Puelles. Hooker (22-12 MMA) is returning to the 155lbs division after suffering a first-round TKO loss to Arnold Allen in his featherweight debut. ‘The Hangman’ has lost four of his past five fights overall, with his lone win in that stretch coming over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266.
UFC 281 Results: Ryan Spann KO's Dominick Reyes (Video)
Chris Taylor - November 12, 2022
Dominick Reyes makes his highly anticipated return to the Octagon at tonight’s UFC 281 event for a bout with Ryan Spann. Reyes (12-4 MMA) decided to take a lengthy hiatus from the sport following his brutal knockout loss to Jiri Prochazka in May of 2021. That setback had marked ‘The Devastator’s’ third in a row, as he was previously knocked out by Jan Blachowicz and outpointed by Jon Jones. Prior to that rough stretch, Dominick had gone a perfect 12-0 which included wins over Chris Weidman, Ovince Saint Preux and Volkan Oezdemir.
UFC 281: 'Adesanya vs. Pereira' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - November 12, 2022
The Octagon returns to New York for tonight’s UFC 281 event, a fourteen-bout fight card headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira. Adesanya (23-1 MMA) and Pereira (6-1 MMA) of course have a history, with ‘Poatan’ having defeated ‘Stylebender’ on two occasions in the Glory kickboxing ring.
Francis Ngannou provides grim update on potential UFC return: “This contract situation hasn’t been sorted”
Susan Cox - November 12, 2022
Francis Ngannou has provided a grim update on his potential UFC return. The last time Ngannou (17-3 MMA) fought in the Octagon was this past January at UFC 270 where he defeated Ciryl Gane (11-1 MMA) via unanimous decision. Prior to the victory, the champ had suffered an MCL tear and partial ACL tear in training, but bound and determined, he proceeded to fight and defeat Gane.
Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski officially announced as UFC 284 main event
Cole Shelton - November 12, 2022
Islam Makhachev has his first title defense set. After Makhachev won the vacant title at UFC 280 with a submission win over Charles Oliveira, he called out featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. The Aussie was the backup fighter for the card and the two had a staredown after Makhachev’s win.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals plans to be active ahead of Islam Makhachev superfight: "I'm at my peak right now"
Josh Evanoff - November 11, 2022
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes he’s in his prime, and he’s not going to waste it. ‘The Great’ has been out of action since his victory over Max Holloway in July. Following that victory, he announced his intentions to move to the lightweight division. Those plans were temporarily put on hold as he had to get surgery on an injured hand.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk comes to Carla Esparza's defense after fans booed her at UFC 281 presser: "She deserves respect"
Josh Evanoff - November 11, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has come to the defense of UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza. ‘Cookie Monster’ is set to return to action this Saturday at UFC 281 against Weili Zhang. ‘Magnum’ is fresh off her knockout win over the former Polish champion in June. Heading into the title fight this Saturday, Zhang is a massive betting favorite.
Israel Adesanya hits back at idea that Bo Nickal would easily outwrestle and submit him: "This is not wrestling, this is MMA"
Josh Evanoff - November 11, 2022
UFC middleweight champion Isreal Adesanya wants to pump the breaks a little bit on the Bo Nickal hype train. ‘The Last Stylebender’ is set to return to action this Saturday against Alex Pereira. The pair will headline UFC 281 on pay-per-view, in a trilogy of sorts. The Brazilian previously faced Adesanya in kickboxing, defeating him both times.
Dustin Poirier warns Michael Chandler against using “tough guy mindset” at UFC 281: "If he fights me like he fought Justin Gaethje, I'll clean him up”
Susan Cox - November 11, 2022
Dustin Poirier has sent a warning to Michael Chandler against using a ‘tough guy mindset’ ahead of UFC 281. It will be Dustin Poirier (28-7 MMA) vs Michael Chandler (23-7 MMA) in a lightweight bout on Saturday, November 12th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Israel Adesanya announces plans of returning to light heavyweight after UFC 281
Susan Cox - November 11, 2022
Israel Adesanya has announced plans of returning to light heavyweight after UFC 281. UFC 281 features Israel Adesanya (23-1 MMA) vs Alex Pereira (6-1 MMA) in the middleweight main event tomorrow, Saturday, November 12th at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The title is on the line and Adesanya is confident he will retain the prize.
Mario Bautista "super happy" with first-round submission win over Benito Lopez, hopes for a ranked opponent next
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Mario Bautista couldn’t be happier with his win over Benito Lopez at UFC Vegas 64. Bautista was set to face the returning Lopez who hadn’t fought since 2019 and the goal for Bautista was to put him away early. He wanted to prove he is a lot better than Lopez and he did just that as he scored a first-round submission win.
Calvin Kattar announces he tore his ACL in Arnold Allen fight, set to undergo surgery
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Calvin Kattar has suffered a torn ACL. In the main event of UFC Vegas 63, Kattar was taking on Arnold Allen in a pivotal fight for the featherweight division. Yet, at the end of the first round, Kattar attempted a flying knee and landed awkwardly. To begin the second round, Allen landed a leg kick and Kattar dropped down to the ground and the fight was stopped due to the injury.
Dana White details Power Slap rules, reveals broadcast partner: "I’m really into this. I like it"
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Dana White has officially announced Power Slap. On Friday in New York City, White held a press conference to announce Power Slap, a Slap Fighting promotion. Along with that, the UFC boss announced a television deal with TBS for an eight-episode television series which will mark the promotion’s debut in 2023. Each episode will run for one hour. Rankings will launch after the series concludes and champions will be crowned.
Andre Petroski plans to submit Wellington Turman at UFC 281 to prove he's "the best grappler" at middleweight, blasts Bo Nickal
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Andre Petroski is hoping to prove he is the best grappler in the middleweight division at UFC 281. Petroski is set to face Wellington Turman on the prelims of the stacked card at Madison Square Garden. After Petroski’s first-round submission win over Nick Maximov, he wasn’t sure what would be next but he wanted to fight at MSG. In order to get this fight, he had to make sacrifices. His coaches left for Abu Dhabi to corner Sean Brady, but that didn’t stop Petroski’s training.
Jiri Prochazka shoots down potential UFC super fight with Israel Adesanya
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
Jiri Prochazka doesn’t see a need in fighting Israel Adesanya. Although Prochazka and Adesanya are both set to defend their titles before the year is up, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has spoken about wanting to fight at light heavyweight again in the future. Of course, Adesanya headlined UFC 259 against Jan Blachowicz for the 205lbs title but lost by a decision.
UFC 281: ‘Adesanya vs. Pereira’ Weigh-in Results
Cole Shelton - November 11, 2022
The UFC returns to its annual November trip to Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In the main event of UFC 281, the middleweight title is up for grabs as Israel Adesanya looks to defend his belt against Alex Pereira. These two fought twice in kickboxing with Pereira winning both including one by KO. Adesanya is looking to defend his middleweight title for the sixth time. He’s coming off a decision win over Jared Cannonier by decision back in July. Pereira, meanwhile, is just 3-0 in the UFC and coming off a KO win over Sean Strickland. His other two wins are by decision over Bruno Silva and by KO over Andreas Michailidis exactly one year ago at the MSG card in 2021.
Henry Cejudo responds after Aljamain Sterling says he prefers “money fight” with Sean O’Malley next: “You want Suga Sean O’Methly because the only thing he can wrestle with is his sexuality”
Cole Shelton - November 10, 2022
Henry Cejudo is continuing to take shots at Aljamain Sterling. After Sterling defended his bantamweight title for the second time at UFC 280 against TJ Dillashaw, Cejudo has been vocal in calling him out. Yet, the champ says he wants time off so ‘Triple C’ then turned his attention to Sean O’Malley.
Jiri Prochazka reveals he declined having Glover Teixeira rematch in Brazil
Cole Shelton - November 10, 2022
Jiri Prochazka reveals the UFC wanted his and Glover Teixeira’s rematch to take place in Brazil. Teixeira hails from Brazil and the promotion was returning to the country for the first time since 2020 in January for UFC 283. With that, the hope was the UFC would have Teixeira’s potential final fight in his home country.