MMA News
After returning to training, Darren Till provides timeline for his next Octagon appearance: "The comeback is on"
Josh Evanoff - August 26, 2022
UFC middleweight Darren Till has given fans an update on his long-awaited return. ‘The Gorilla’ was last seen in the octagon against Derek Brunson in September 2021. In that outing, the British star was submitted in round three. The defeat was also the second in a row for Till, as he had previously lost to Robert Whittaker.
Israel Adesanya reflects on Yoel Romero fight as the lowest point of his career: "That was the worst for me"
Josh Evanoff - August 26, 2022
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya views his fight with Yoel Romero as the lowest moment of his career. ‘The Last Stylebender’ met ‘Soldier of God’ in the main event of UFC 248 in March 2020. The headliner was set to be the first title defense for the recently-crowned champion Adesanya. Despite high expectations heading in, the matchup wasn’t a thriller as fans hoped.
Stephen Thompson eyes "fun fight" against Michel Pereira at UFC 281: "I think I could put him away"
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2022
Stephen Thompson has made it known he wants to fight a striker next. Thompson was linked to a fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov but told BJPENN.com on Thursday that he was not interested in that fight. ‘Wonderboy’ says he wants to fight a striker, so with that, he hopes he can face Michel Pereira his next time out.
Sean Strickland shares some harsh parting words for recently retired former UFC champion Luke Rockhold
Susan Cox - August 26, 2022
Sean Strickland has shared some harsh parting words for the recently retired former UFC champion Luke Rockhold. It was Luke Rockhold (16-6 MMA) vs Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA) at UFC 278 this past weekend, Saturday, August 20th. In the co-main event, the former middleweight champion Rockhold, went down to defeat by unanimous decision.
Daniel Cormier questions the purpose of Nate Diaz vs Khamzat Chimaev following UFC 278: “I feel like for Chimaev, this is just another scalp on his resume”
Susan Cox - August 26, 2022
Daniel Cormier is questioning the purpose of Nate Diaz vs Khamzat Chimaev following UFC 278. It was Kamaru Usman (20-2 MMA) vs Leon Edwards (20-3 MMA) this past Saturday night in the welterweight main event. The two had previously met back in December of 2015, where Usman defeated Edwards via unanimous decision. The outcome of their second bout proved to be entirely different with Edwards defeating Usman by a stunning KO in round 5.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why he wouldn’t sign former teammate Luke Rockhold to Eagle FC: “He has nothing to prove here”
Susan Cox - August 26, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov has explained why he wouldn’t sign former teammate Luke Rockhold to Eagle FC. Nurmagomedov, 33, officially retired from the UFC back in March of 2021 with a perfect record of 29 wins and zero losses. Khabib was the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021.
Chris Weidman still training, hoping to return "middle of next year," reveals Stephen Thompson
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2022
Chris Weidman has made it known he will make the walk to the Octagon again. At UFC 261, Weidman broke his leg in a gruesome fashion as just 17 seconds into the fight, he threw a leg kick that Uriah Hall blocked and his leg snapped in half. It was a major injury that resulted in multiple surgeries but Weidman is back in the gym and getting closer to a return.
Stephen Thompson praises Leon Edwards for "perfect technique" to KO Kamaru Usman, but believes 'The Nigerian Nightmare' wins the trilogy
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Stephen Thompson believes Leon Edwards landed the perfect technique to KO Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Edwards entered the fifth round clearly losing the fight and did not get off to the best start in the final frame. It appeared that Usman would be defending his belt by decision but Edwards landed a clean head kick that KO’d Usman in the final minute which Thompson says was a great technique.
Charles Oliveira says Islam Makhachev refused to fight him in Brazil in January: "They took it where they wanted"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Charles Oliveira says the original plan was to have his vacant lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev headline UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January. The UFC announced they are set to return to Brazil in January and according to Oliveira, he was supposed to face Makhachev on the card. However, according to the former lightweight champ, he claims Makhachev refused to go to Brazil and rather pleaded to have the fight in Abu Dhabi, which is where it will now take place.
‘Anatomy of a Fighter’ video from UFC 278 shows backstage footage of Kamaru Usman immediately following his KO loss to Leon Edwards
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2022
Footage of Kamaru Usman’s reaction following UFC 278 has been released. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ faced Leon Edwards as the headliner in Salt Lake City last Saturday night. The bout was a rematch of their previous encounter at UFC on Fox in December 2015. In that outing, Usman scored a unanimous decision victory.
KSI believes the sky is the limit ahead of his boxing return: "I could fight Conor McGregor"
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2022
YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI believes he could fight anyone, even Conor McGregor, in the future. ‘The Nightmare’ has been out of action since his rematch with Logan Paul in November 2019. In that outing, the British star scored a split-decision victory over ‘The Maverick’. Following the contest, the 29-year-old decided to take a hiatus from boxing.
Chael Sonnen believes Colby Covington could receive title shot upon return: "There's not a lot of players left on the board"
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2022
Chael Sonnen believes that UFC welterweight Colby Covington could return for a chance at gold. ‘Chaos’ has been out of action since UFC 272 in March. In that outing, Covington scored a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal. In the weeks following the fight, ‘Gamebred’ allegedly attacked his friend-turned-foe in a Miami bar.
Mike Perry describes sparring sessions with Jake Paul: "I kind of wanted him to hit me"
Josh Evanoff - August 25, 2022
Mike Perry has shared some details of his sparring sessions with Jake Paul. ‘Platinum’ is coming off a decision victory over Michael ‘Venom’ Page in London last weekend. The victory was the second in a row for the 30-year-old inside the BKFC ring. However, he’s looking to make the move to the standard boxing ring next.
Stephen Thompson not interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov next: "It doesn't make sense for me to face another heavy grappler"
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Stephen Thompson isn’t interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov next. Thompson hasn’t fought since last December when he lost by decision to Belal Muhammad. It was his second straight defeat, and in both losses, he was out grappled and outwrestled.
Anthony Smith believes Luke Rockhold had all the ingredients to be a “superstar” after UFC 278: “Where was this f**king guy ten years ago?”
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Anthony Smith thinks Luke Rockhold could’ve been a superstar if he acted the way he did at UFC 278 throughout his entire career. In the lead-up to his return fight against Paulo Costa, Rockhold was vocal about his displeasure with the UFC, fighter pay, and how fighters are treated among other topics.
Leon Edwards’ coach Dave Lovell responds to Jorge Masvidal’s call for a title shot: “Mr. Masvidal, you little rat Judas, your time will come also”
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Leon Edwards’s coach Dave Lovell doesn’t think Jorge Masvidal is anywhere near a title shot. Edwards and Masvidal of course have a history due to the three-piece and a soda incident, and from previously being booked to fight at UFC 269 before ‘Gamebred’ was forced out with an injury. With that, after Edwards knocked out Kamaru Usman to become the UFC’s new welterweight champ, Masvidal was vocal in wanting to make the fight finally happen, despite being on a three-fight losing skid.
Merab Dvalishvili responds to fans critical of his win over Jose Aldo at UFC 278: “It’s his job to move and do something”
Cole Shelton - August 25, 2022
Merab Dvalishvili thinks Jose Aldo is also to blame for their UFC 278 fight not being fan-friendly. Dvalishvili won a lackluster decision over Aldo in Salt Lake City, Utah in a fight that was primarily Dvalishvili pushing Aldo up against the Octagon. It was a disappointing fight that even Dana White ripped Dvalishvili for his performance.
Mike Perry tells Jake Paul, "I'm the real problem" in latest callout
Andrew Whitelaw - August 24, 2022
Mike Perry has once again called out Jake Paul to box him. The YouTube star turned pugilist recently saw his fight against Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. fall through with both opponents withdrawing.