MMA News

Christopher Taylor - March 7, 2021

Former ‘champ champ’ Henry Cejudo has shared his breakdown of last night’s UFC 259 bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan. Sterling and Yan squared off on last night’s pay-per-view main card and the fight delivered as many expected. After a strong opening round for Sterling, the Russian champion seemingly began to change the tide in round two. By round four it appeared Yan was on route to a possible finish, however an illegal knee spelt an end to the fight and Petr’s title reign.

Adam Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC president Dana White says he is interested in having Amanda Nunes fight Julianna Pena next for the UFC women’s bantamweight title. Nunes got through Megan Anderson with relative ease at UFC 259, as she tapped her opponent out for her second defense of the UFC women’s featherweight title. At this point, there aren’t any new challenges for Nunes at 145lbs and she is likely going to return down to 135lbs for her next fight. Although “The Lioness” has beaten many of the top contenders at bantamweight already, there are still a couple of fresh fights out there or the champ at 135lbs. One of those potential opponents is Pena, who previously called Nunes out. Both women have expressed interest in a potential fight, and it seems like White likes it, too.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC president Dana White shared his thoughts on a Cris Cyborg van being parked outside of UFC 259 venue in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Cyborg was knocked out by Amanda Nunes back in 2018, and the two have been connected to a rematch ever since. With Nunes being in the co-main event of UFC 259 against Megan Anderson, Cyborg was of course watching the fight. Just as the massive betting line expected her to do, Nunes went in there and dominated the fight right from the bell, taking Anderson to the ground and defeating her on the floor via submission. It was another fantastic performance by Nunes, and of course, Team Cyborg was lurking nearby watching closely. There was a van parked near T-Mobile Arena with Cyborg’s logo on it.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC president Dana White reacted to the controversial ending in the Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling bantamweight title bout at UFC 259. Yan nailed Sterling in the head while he was on the ground with an illegal knee, leaving Sterling unable to continue in the contest. Though Yan was slightly ahead on the scorecards at the time of the foul, referee Mark Smith deemed the illegal knee was done on purpose and he disqualified Yan, which led to Sterling now holding the belt. It was a super controversial moment and call as it was the first time in the UFC we’ve ever seen a title change hands via DQ. Following the event, White spoke to reporters about the fight.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC president Dana White reacted to UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz defeating Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision at UFC 259. Blachowicz won a unanimous decision by being the more well-rounded mixed martial artist over Adesanya, who moved up to 205lbs for the first time in his UFC career. Although Adesanya had some success early on with his striking, Blachowicz was the bigger, stronger man, and he had the better cardio, too. The Pole used his striking and grappling in totality to take home the decision and prove to everyone that he’s the best 205lber in the world.

Adam Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC light heavyweight contender Thiago Santos released a statement following his unanimous decision loss to Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 259. Santos and Rakic went three rounds in the pay-per-view opener at UFC 259, with Rakic edging out a unanimous decision at the end of 15 minutes. It wasn’t a great fight, as the former training partners at American Top Team didn’t seem to have any urgency to hurt each other. Although the striking totals pointed to Santos edging Rakic out on the feet in terms of volume, the judges felt Rakic landed the harder shots and he took the decision.

Adam Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling responded to Petr Yan following his controversial DQ at UFC 259, suggesting the fight was close. Sterling and Yan put on a great fight for as long as it lasted. The first round was close, as Sterling was landing more volume on the feet until Yan dropped him with a strong right hand to take it back. In the second round, Yan appeared to be taking over with his striking, and it was the same thing in the third round. The judges had the fight 29-28 Yan, 29-28 Yan, and 29-28 Sterling heading into the fourth round. In the fourth round, it appeared that the tide of the fight was starting to change in Yan’s favor and that he would win.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

Multiple pro fighters are accusing UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling of acting to take home the belt at UFC 259 against Petr Yan. Sterling and Yan met in one of three title fights at UFC 259. The two bantamweights went back-and-forth in the fight, but it appeared as though Yan was starting to take over in the later rounds. However, Yan made a huge mistake when he kneed Sterling in the head when his opponent was downed. After the doctor said Sterling could not continue, referee Mark Smith waved the contest off, declaring Sterling the winner by DQ. Yan became the first fighter in UFC history to lose his championship title off of a disqualification ruling.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is putting a potential Jon Jones fight on hold following his loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. Adesanya lost a unanimous decision to Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259. The striking battles were closely fought, but Blachowicz utilized his entire mixed martial arts skillset to win the fight. The Pole was able to take Adesanya down and control him on the floor for the last couple of rounds to take home the decision and hand Adesanya his first career defeat. It’s a tough loss for Adesanya, who lost his bid to become a two-division UFC champion, but despite losing to Blachowicz, he is still the UFC middleweight champion.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz said he wants a long layoff after beating Israel Adesanya and called for Glover Teixeira next. Blachowicz pulled off a big upset when he was able to win a unanimous decision over Adesanya in the main event of UFC 259. Blachowicz was counted out by so many people once again leading into this matchup, but he proved he’s the superior mixed martial artist by putting on an absolutely dominant performance over the course of 25 minutes. The win over Adesanya’s marks Blachowicz’s first UFC title defense, with his second likely coming later this year. He just wants to take a break first after going five rounds with Adesanya.

Adam D Martin - March 7, 2021

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan responded after a photo of Aljamain Sterling holding the belt was shared on social media. Yan and Sterling fought in one of three title fights at UFC 259, and it was a heck of a fight for as long as it lasted. After a strong start by Sterling in the first round, Yan dropped him with a straight right. Tasting the power of the Russian turned the course of the fight, and gave Yan all the momentum. Though Sterling had his moments, Yan appeared to take over in rounds two, three, and four. In the fourth, Yan was cruising to another title defense until he made the bonehead mistake of landing an illegal knee in the fourth round to the head of a downed opponent. Sterling couldn’t continue, and the fight was called off due to DQ.

Christopher Taylor - March 6, 2021

Megan Anderson entered tonight’s UFC 259 co-main event with hopes of playing spoiler against consensus women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes. Anderson (11-5 MMA) was returning to action this evening for the first time since February of 2020, where she earned a first round knockout victory over Norma Dumont. That victory had served as the Aussie’s second in a row, as Anderson had previously defeated Zarah Fairn Dos Santos by submission at UFC 243.

Christopher Taylor - March 6, 2021

Israel Adesanya was hoping to become a two-division champion when he squared off with Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259. ‘Stylebender’ had entered tonight’s highly anticipated headliner sporting a perfect professional record of 20-0, his latest being a second round TKO victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 253.

Christopher Taylor - March 6, 2021

Tonight’s UFC 259 main card featured a men’s bantamweight title fight between reigning champion Petr Yan and top contender Aljamain Sterling. Yan (15-2 MMA) had captured the promotions vacant bantamweight title at UFC 251 after scoring a fifth round TKO victory over MMA legend Jose Aldo. That win had marked the Russian’s tenth in a row and seventh straight under the UFC banner.

Chris Taylor - March 6, 2021

Former light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones was clearly watching tonight’s UFC 259 main event between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya. Jones (26-1 MMA) had vacated the promotions 205-pound title in August of 2020 in order to make a run at heavyweight gold.

Chris Taylor - March 6, 2021

Tonight’s UFC 259 event was headlined by a light heavyweight title fight featuring Jan Blachowicz squaring off with Israel Adesanya. The UFC’s reigning middleweight kingpin, Adesanya (20-1 MMA), was moving up a weight class to challenge Blachowicz this evening. ‘Stylebender’ had most previously competed at UFC 253, where he scored a second round TKO victory over the previously undefeated Paulo Costa.

Christopher Taylor - March 6, 2021

Former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw was clearly watching tonight’s 135-pound title fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. Yan (15-2 MMA) had captured the promotions vacant bantamweight title at UFC 251 after scoring a fifth round TKO victory over MMA legend Jose Aldo. That win had marked the Russian’s tenth in a row and seventh straight under the UFC banner.

Chris Taylor - March 6, 2021

Tonight’s UFC 259 event was co-headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight featuring Amanda Nunes squaring off with challenger Megan Anderson. Nunes (21-4 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since successfully defending her featherweight crown against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250. The UFC ‘champ champ‘ had entered tonight’s co-headliner riding a sensational eleven-fight winning streak.