MMA News
Dustin Poirier thanks Conor McGregor for charitable donation: "Mission accomplished"
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier thanked rival Conor McGregor for his charitable donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. Poirier recently took to his social media to reveal that McGregor’s $500,000 donation to “The Good Fight Foundation” never came through despite his team suggesting the money had been sent. McGregor then put Poirier on blast for his comments and threatened to break apart their fight at UFC 264. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the fight remains intact. Still, there was that question about the charity money that McGregor promised floating out there. Now, we know McGregor has made good on his word.
Randy Brown says he and Alex Oliveira nearly fought backstage after weigh-ins, wants to return at UFC 264
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Randy Brown knew he would finish Alex Oliveira, but did expect the fight to play out differently. Brown and Oliveira were the prelim headliner and early on in the scrap, the two exchanged punches and Brown knocked him down. After that, “Rude Boy” got ahold of his back and submitted the Brazilian with a one-arm rear naked choke.
Dustin Jacoby expects to KO Ion Cutelaba "early" and fight a ranked guy next
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Dustin Jacoby is eager to share the Octagon with Ion Cutelaba on Saturday night. Cutelaba was originally set to face Devin Clark but Clark was forced out of the bout. After that happened, the UFC called Jacoby who jumped at the opportunity to face a well-known name in Cutelaba.
Cody Stamann doesn't understand why he's an underdog against Merab Dvalishvili, says he will KO him: "I'm going to put him to sleep"
Cole Shelton - April 28, 2021
Cody Stamann doesn’t understand the hype around Merab Dvalishvili. Stamann and Dvalishvili are set to finally meet at UFC Vegas 25 after being scheduled two times previously. After the fight has fallen apart two times previously, Stamann says he had some reluctance to accept the fight for the third time until Dvalishvili started to train at his gym and some of his training partners told him he would be able to win the fight with ease.
Joe Rogan praises amazing fights at UFC 261: "The night was really magic"
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan reacted to the amazing fights at this past weekend’s UFC 261 card, saying that “the night was really magic.” Rogan was cageside alongside former UFC champion Daniel Cormier and veteran play-by-play man Jon Anik for last Saturday’s UFC 261 card. Welcoming fans back for the first time in over a year, the fighters put on an absolute show for the sold-out crowd in Jacksonville, Florida. The card was full of incredible moments, from Kamaru Usman knocking out Jorge Masvidal in the main event to Rose Namajunas finishing Weili Zhang with a head kick in the co-main event. Following the card, Rogan took to his social media to react to the event.
Derrick Lewis says he has accepted Francis Ngannou fight: "Jon Jones is out of the picture"
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis says he has accepted a fight with Francis Ngannou and he believes Jon Jones is out of the running. After Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to become the UFC heavyweight champion, most thought that Jones would be next in line to fight “The Predator.” However, Jones and the UFC are now involved in a public pay dispute and there is no guarantee that Jones gets the fight. Instead of “Bones” getting the title shot, UFC president Dana White pointed to Lewis fighting Ngannou in a rematch instead, and it appears that fight is next.
Valentina Shevchenko open to fighting Weili Zhang at 125lbs
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko says she is open to fighting former women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang at 125lbs. Shevchenko had another extraordinary performance in the Octagon this past Saturday night at UFC 261 when she defeated Jessica Andrade via second-round TKO for her seventh straight win at 125lbs. Shevchenko has been absolutely running through everyone in her path in the flyweight division, and after beating Zhang, it’s hard to say who will be next.
Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich 2 targeted for BKFC fight
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
A rematch between former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich is being planned for a BKFC event that will take place this summer. On Tuesday, BKFC announced that it has signed Ostovich to a new contract, and immediately there were rumors that she could be paired up in a rematch against VanZant in a battle between two of the promotion’s most marketable fighters. Indeed, according to MMAFighting.com, BKFC is targeting VanZant vs. Ostovich 2 for a summer matchup, either in June or July. The venue and location of that matchup have yet-to-be determined.
Video | Francis Ngannou celebrates UFC title win with fans in his native Cameroon
Harry Kettle - April 28, 2021
Francis Ngannou has returned to his native Cameroon to celebrate his recent UFC heavyweight title victory. Last month, “The Predator” challenged Stipe Miocic for the second time in an attempt to become champion. In the first meeting he was dominated in a five-round decision, but in the second, Ngannou was the one in control as he secured a vicious second-round knockout over Stipe.
With TJ Dillashaw out vs. Cory Sandhagen, UFC looking at Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson as new UFC Vegas 26 main event
Drake Riggs - April 27, 2021
UFC Vegas 26 is going to have a new main event. As of right now, it looks to be a top strawweight clash between Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson. It was revealed on Tuesday that former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw was going to have to put his comeback on hold. A headbutt in training caused a nasty laceration over his right eye forcing his removal from his fight with Cory Sandhagen. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani now reports that Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson is likely to be the new headliner of the May 8 UFC event.
Photo | TJ Dillashaw reveals nasty cut that forced him out of Cory Sandhagen fight
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
TJ Dillashaw has revealed why he was forced out of his May 8 main event fight against Cory Sandhagen. On Tuesday evening, it was reported that Dillashaw was out of the fight due to an undisclosed injury. The hope was to reschedule the scrap for a later date, and shortly after the news broke, Dillashaw took to social media to reveal he’s out of the fight due to a cut.
Stipe Miocic eyes Francis Ngannou trilogy: "I want to get back what's mine"
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Stipe Miocic is looking to have his trilogy fight with Francis Ngannou. Miocic and Ngannou had their rematch at UFC 260 and in the first round, the challenger had success stuffing the takedowns. He landed some shots but Miocic ate them and kept coming forward.
Kamaru Usman says he's happy to "take care of" Jake Paul, YouTuber accepts his challenge
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Kamaru Usman is open to boxing Jake Paul. At UFC 261 on Saturday, Usman scored a highlight-reel KO over Jorge Masvidal to defend his belt for the fourth time. At the event was Paul who the crowd was going after, and Daniel Cormier even confronted him.
Jake Paul claims he's a "better striker than 99.9%" of MMA fighters
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Jake Paul believes he’s a better striker than 99.9 percent of MMA fighters, and that is why he has been calling them out. Paul, the brash YouTuber who turned professional boxer, has taken the combat sports world by storm after his KO win over Nate Robinson. His popularity only grew with his recent KO win over Ben Askren on April 17. Since then, he has been continuing to call out MMA fighters and he says he is doing so because it is a massive draw and the fact he believes he is just better.
Jorge Masvidal believes Kamaru Usman beats Colby Covington in rematch
Adam D Martin - April 27, 2021
Jorge Masvidal says he belives that UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will defeat Colby Covington in their rematch. Usman smashed Masvidal in their own rematch to retain the UFC welterweight title. Usman not only outwrestled Masvidal, but he also outstruck him on the feet and then scored the knockout blow in the second round. Usman also knocked out Covington previously when they fought at UFC 245 in December 2019. It was an exceptional performance by Usman that night as well, though there was some controversy as far as the stoppage from Marc Goddard went. Still, that was a great fight and the rematch should be good as well.
Rachael Ostovich signs with BKFC
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Rachael Ostovich has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Ostovich was released from the UFC in December after losing three in a row. After the release, many were curious where she would sign as many pointed to Bellator given she is a Hawaiian, where Bellator holds events every year and is marketable. Yet, on Tuesday, it was announced BKFC signed the 30-year-old.
Curtis Millender plans to "hurt" and "punish" Rory MacDonald at PFL 2 "to get some more respect on my name"
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Curtis Millender jumped at the chance to compete in PFL and fight Rory MacDonald. After David Michaud was forced out of the fight, the PFL signed UFC and Bellator veteran, Curtis Millender to face MacDonald. It is a big opportunity for “Curtious” who says this is a bucket list fight for him.
Giga Chikadze says he will "knock Cub Swanson out cold," confident he will be featherweight champ by early 2022
Cole Shelton - April 27, 2021
Giga Chikadze has a ton of confidence entering his UFC Vegas 25 co-main event fight against Cub Swanson. Chikadze had an incredible 2020 going 4-0 and improved to 5-0 in the UFC. He made a name for himself and began calling out ranked featherweights and gets his chance to face a well-known name in Swanson.