MMA News
UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev in Abu Dhabi loses three fighters
Ryan Harkness - September 19, 2022
UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi is coming up fast on October 22nd, but when the lights come on at Etihad Arena there’ll be three fewer fighters on the card. The event features two title fights: Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight title, and Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw for the UFC bantamweight title. Important divisional contender fights make up the remainder of the pay-per-view portion of the card: Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley, Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot, and Manon Fiorot vs. Katlyn Chookagian.
Michael Bisping shares his take on the top-five most underrated UFC champions of all time
Cole Shelton - September 19, 2022
Michael Bisping believes five fighters stick out as the most underrated champions in UFC history. The UFC has had a ton of champions with many like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya hitting the mainstream. However, many haven’t been that popular, and fans often forget they were champions or their skillset wasn’t as respected as it should’ve been. For Bisping, he says Luke Rockhold, Rich Franklin, Frankie Edgar, Rashad Evans, and BJ Penn are the five most underrated UFC champions.
Nate Diaz shares new footage of the backstage scuffle from the UFC 279 press conference
Cole Shelton - September 19, 2022
Nate Diaz has shared new footage of the backstage incident that canceled the UFC 279 press conference. The UFC was hosting a press conference for the top-three fights but after being delayed, only Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez came out. After that, Dana White announced the event was canceled as it was a s**tshow backstage.
Pros react after Jose Aldo officially retires from MMA
Cole Shelton - September 19, 2022
Jose Aldo announced his retirement from MMA on Sunday and pro fighters reacted to his retirement. Aldo was coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 in a lackluster fight. Although he had one fight left on his deal and the promotion heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January, Aldo decided to retire.
Paul Felder recalls squashing beef with Marvin Vettori: "There's no real bad blood there"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 18, 2022
UFC color commentator Paul Felder has detailed making amends with UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori. Last year, Vettori insisted that he would confront Felder over what he believed to be biased commentary. Vettori went as far as to call Felder a “puppet.” He said that he’d meet Felder face-to-face backstage at UFC Vegas 41.
Cory Sandhagen wishes UFC Vegas 60 bout against Song Yadong ended differently: "That was kind of a bummer"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 18, 2022
Cory Sandhagen scored a TKO victory over Song Yadong, but he didn’t do so in the way he wanted to. Sandhagen and Yadong clashed in the main event of UFC Vegas 60. The two traded leather inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This one almost made it to the fifth round, but it was not meant to be.
Jose Aldo retires from MMA competition, granted UFC release
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 18, 2022
Jose Aldo is riding off into the sunset as far as pro MMA competition is concerned. The surefire UFC Hall of Famer has retired from the sport of MMA. Combate was the first to report the news. MMAFighting later followed up to confirm Aldo’s exit. It was also noted that Aldo’s team worked with the UFC to grant him a release.
Chito Vera responds to callout from Cory Sandhagen at UFC Vegas 60
Fernando Quiles Jr. - September 18, 2022
Marlon “Chito” Vera was in attendance for Cory Sandhagen’s victory over Song Yadong at UFC Vegas 60 and he has responded to a callout. Sandhagen and Yadong went one-on-one inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 17. A slicing elbow through the eyebrow of Yadong caused a nasty cut that would eventually decide the fight before the fifth round could begin. The doctor called the fight off after observing the cut, and Sandhagen was awarded the fourth-round TKO.
UFC Vegas 60 Bonus Report: Chidi Njokuani and Gregory Rodrigues earn 'FOTN' honors
Chris Taylor - September 17, 2022
The Octagon remained in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 60 event, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong. Tonight’s men’s bantamweight main event proved to be the back and forth war most fans and analysts were expecting. Song Yadong possessed a clear power edge but it was diversity of strikes from Cory Sandhagen that proved to be the difference. ‘Sandman’ was able to utilize some crafty elbows and knees to open up a nasty cut on Yadong. As the fight went on the cut grew worse and officials decided they had seen enough by the end of round four.
Pros react after Cory Sandhagen TKO's Song Yadong at UFC Vegas 60
Chris Taylor - September 17, 2022
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 60 event was headlined by a key bantamweight contest between perennial contenders Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong. Sandhagen (15-4 MMA), 30, was hoping to snap a two-fight losing skid this evening. ‘Sandman’ had suffered decision defeats to former UFC champions Petr Yan (16-3 MMA) and T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA) in his most previous efforts.
UFC Vegas 60 Results: Cory Sandhagen TKO's Song Yadong (Video)
Chris Taylor - September 17, 2022
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 60 event is headlined by a key bantamweight contest featuring Cory Sandhagen taking on Song Yadong. Sandhagen (14-4 MMA), 30, will be looking to snap a two-fight losing skid this evening. ‘Sandman’ was defeated by Petr Yan (16-3 MMA) by unanimous decision last October at UFC 267. Prior to that, he lost to T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA) in July of 2021.
BKFC 28 salaries: John Dodson takes home the most in disclosed payouts
Cole Shelton - September 17, 2022
John Dodson made his Bare Knuckle boxing debut at BKFC 28 and led the way in disclosed salaries. Dodson was in the co-main event against Ryan Benoit and made quick work scoring a 40-second KO. However, it was a surprise Dodson even went to BKFC as after his UFC departure he was fighting in MMA and expected to continue to do that until BKFC gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Georges St-Pierre names two fighters he wished he could have faced before retiring
Chris Taylor - September 17, 2022
Former two division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre has named two fighters that he wishes he could have faced before retiring. St-Pierre (26-2 MMA), a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion, faced a plethora of high profile names throughout his storied mixed martial arts career. His list of prior opponents includes legends such as Matt Hughes, BJ Penn, Jake Shields, Michael Bisping and Matt Serra, just to name a few.
UFC Vegas 60: ‘Sandhagen vs. Song’ Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - September 17, 2022
The Octagon remains in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 60 event, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong. Sandhagen (14-4 MMA), 30, is hoping for a win to put his previous 2 losses behind him. ‘Sandman’ was defeated by Petr Yan (16-3 MMA) by unanimous decision last October at UFC 267. In July of 2021 he lost to T.J. Dillashaw (17-4 MMA).
Chuck Liddell riding with fellow legend Anderson Silva to finish Jake Paul: "He's got nothing to lose"
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2022
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell believes that Anderson Silva will knockout Jake Paul. ‘The Spider’ has been out of action since his no-contest exhibition boxing match with Bruno Machado in May. The bout was the Brazilian’s third since departing the UFC in 2020. Silva had previously scored victories over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz in the boxing ring.
A.J. McKee hopeful for possible crossover bout with PFL's Anthony Pettis: "That would be kind of lit, low-key"
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2022
Former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. McKee is down for some crossover fights. ‘Mercenary’ has been out of action since his rematch with Patricio Pitbull in April. Their first outing nearly a year prior saw McKee win the featherweight title by first-round submission. In the rematch, the Brazilian flipped the script and regained his championship by decision.
Tony Ferguson has no plans to retire after UFC 279, continues to rip Daniel Cormier: "They want to see me as a quitter"
Cole Shelton - September 16, 2022
Tony Ferguson has no plans to retire following his UFC 279 submission loss to Nate Diaz. Ferguson was set to return to welterweight to face Li Jingliang but after Khamzat Chimaev missed weight and the card was re-shuffled, ‘El Cucuy’ wound up headlining the event against Diaz.
Tyron Woodley in talks for boxing return against Tommy Fury in November
Josh Evanoff - September 16, 2022
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is inching closer to his return. ‘The Chosen One’ has been out of action since his rematch with Jake Paul last December. In that first bout in August, the YouTuber scored a controversial split-decision victory. However, in the second outing, Paul scored a vicious sixth-round knockout.