MMA News
Ben Askren reflects on boxing match with Jake Paul: "Turning it down would have been both cowardly and limiting my opportunity"
Josh Evanoff - July 20, 2022
Ben Askren is glad he took a boxing match with Jake Paul. ‘Funky’ retired from MMA in November 2019, following a loss to Demian Maia. With that, he also ended his UFC stint, holding a 1-2 record. While he debuted with a win over Robbie Lawler, he then suffered subsequent defeats to Jorge Masvidal and the aforementioned Maia.
Valentina Shevchenko decides against bantamweight move: "At this moment, it's not happening"
Josh Evanoff - July 20, 2022
Despite her previous comments, UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will remain at 125-pounds. ‘The Bullet’ is fresh off her split-decision victory over Talia Santos at UFC 275 last month. Despite entering the contest as a big favorite, Shevchenko faced the biggest challenge of her flyweight run. The champion was taken down multiple times in the opening rounds.
Jose Aldo admits retirement is around the corner, plans to win title and hang up the gloves: "I’ll beat him and then I’ll win the belt, it’s already written"
Josh Evanoff - July 20, 2022
UFC bantamweight contender Jose Aldo believes he’ll end his career as a champion. The Brazilian is set to return against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 next month. He’s been out of action since his victory over Rob Font last December. The return is seen as a possible title eliminator matchup. Both Aldo, and Dvalishvili are riding lengthy winning streaks, and in title contention.
Tom Aspinall believes he’s still a mystery to the heavyweight division: “I’ve shown 10 percent of my game”
Cole Shelton - July 20, 2022
Tom Aspinall believes there is a lot to his game that the rest of the heavyweight division hasn’t seen. Aspinall is set for his second straight UFC main event as he headlines UFC London on Saturday against Curtis Blaydes. It will be the toughest test of his career and is only his sixth fight under the UFC banner. In five fights so far, he has only gone to the second round once – and that ended one minute in – so Aspinall says he has only shown 10 percent of his game.
Paddy Pimblett claims Jordan Leavitt doesn’t even want to be at UFC London: “I can’t wait to rearrange this mushrooms face for him”
Susan Cox - July 20, 2022
Paddy Pimblett is claiming that Jordan Leavitt doesn’t even want to be at UFC London. It will be Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett (18-3 MMA) vs Jordan ‘The Monkey King’ Leavitt (10-1 MMA) in a lightweight bout this coming Saturday, July 23rd at the O2 Arena in London, England.
Charles Rosa excited to go into enemy territory at UFC London against Nathaniel Wood: "I'm smashing this kid's face in"
Cole Shelton - July 20, 2022
Charles Rosa wanted to fight in front of fans in his next fight and he got his wish. Rosa has fought six straight times in front of no fans and after his latest effort, he told his manager and the UFC that he wanted to fight in front of fans again. He ended up getting his wish, as on about five weeks’ notice he got the call to face Nathaniel Wood at UFC London.
Charles Oliveira is willing to start his title fight with Islam Makhachev off of his back: “I’m the division’s biggest problem and you’re not understanding”
Susan Cox - July 20, 2022
Charles Oliveira is willing to start his title fight with Islam Makhachev off of his back. UFC 280 will be headlined by Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA) vs Islam Makhachev (22-1 MMA) at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The currently vacant lightweight championship title will be decided on Saturday, October 22nd.
Brendan Schaub warns Tom Aspinall not to rely on his BJJ black belt against Curtis Blaydes: “Blaydes eats your black belt for f**king breakfast”
Susan Cox - July 20, 2022
Brendan Schaub is warning Tom Aspinall not to rely of his BJJ black belt against Curtis Blaydes. It will be Tom Aspinall (12-2 MMA) vs Curtis Blaydes (16-3 MMA) this coming Saturday, July 23rd in the heavyweight main event at UFC London in the O2 Arena.
Jake Paul reacts after the UFC books Nate Diaz against Khamzat Chimaev as September’s pay-per-view main event: “Betr believe I’m putting my money on Nate Diaz to win versus fake Khabib”
Harry Kettle - July 20, 2022
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has revealed that he’ll be betting on Nate Diaz to defeat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Nate Diaz will be fighting out his UFC contract when he locks horns with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 on September 10. It’s a contest that has been heavily rumoured for a few months now and despite the opposition to the idea from many fans, the promotion is pushing ahead with it.
Conor McGregor looks absolutely enormous in latest post on social media (Photo)
Harry Kettle - July 20, 2022
UFC star Conor McGregor is in incredible shape as he continues his road back to the Octagon following his leg break. Last summer at UFC 264, Conor McGregor suffered a nasty leg injury in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. Ever since then fans have been wondering when we’re going to see him back in the Octagon, with some even thinking he may retire altogether – largely because he doesn’t actually have anything left to prove.
Pro fighters react after the UFC books Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Christopher Taylor - July 19, 2022
Several pro fighters took to Twitter after ESPN announced that Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev was on tap to headline UFC 279. Earlier this afternoon MMA journalist Brett Okamoto reported that Diaz vs. Chimaev would serve as the five-round welterweight headliner on September 10th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Daniel Cormier says he is still haunted by Jon Jones' failed drug tests: "I can’t let it go. He’s a cheater!"
Jeffrey Walter - July 19, 2022
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier says he is still haunted by Jon Jones’ failed drugs tests. Cormier (22-3 MMA) and Jones (26-1 MMA) had arguably the biggest rivalry in Ultimate Fighting Championship history between 2014 and 2017.The pair met on two occasions during that time, with Jon Jones emerging victorious in both contests.
UFC middleweight Sean Strickland weighs in on the rumored Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira title fight: “Just because you can fight doesn’t mean your not a b*tch”
Susan Cox - July 19, 2022
Sean Strickland has weighed in on the rumored Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira title fight. UFC President, Dana White said this past weekend that he guarantees that an Adesanya vs. Pereira match-up will be ‘bat-shi*t nuts’.
The UFC parts ways with three more fighters
Christopher Taylor - July 19, 2022
The UFC has parted ways with another three fighters according to recent reports from @UFCRosterWatch on ‘Twitter’. It should also be noted that it has not been confirmed if all of these moves were outright releases or simply contracts which were not renewed.
Douglas Lima determined to end losing streak against Jason Jackson at Bellator 283: "I don't feel like I've lost a step"
Josh Evanoff - July 19, 2022
Former Bellator welterweight champion Douglas Lima is ready to let his hands go against Jason Jackson. ‘The Phenom’ is set to return this weekend in the main event of Bellator 283. It’ll be Lima’s first bout since his decision loss to Michael Page last October. The defeat marked his third in a row, as he had previously been defeated by Yaroslav Amosov and Gegard Mousasi.
Aljamain Sterling vs. TJ Dillashaw moves from UFC 279 to UFC 280
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2022
Aljamain Sterling and TJ Dillashaw will have their title defense a month later. Sterling and Dillashaw were targeted to fight on September 10 at UFC 279, however, after the UFC made Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev for that event, the promotion moved the bantamweight title fight. According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, Sterling vs. Dillashaw will now serve as the co-main event of UFC 280 on October 22 in Abu Dhabi. The main event of the card will see Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev for the vacant lightweight title.
Henry Cejudo makes plea to Dana White for fight with Alexander Volkanovski: "I truly believe I could beat him"
Josh Evanoff - July 19, 2022
Henry Cejudo is ready to make history against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The 35-year-old has been out of action since his win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May 2020. Following the victory, Cejudo decided to call it quits and retire from MMA. Almost immediately following the retirement, the former champion teased a return.
Khamzat Chimaev reacts after booking main event fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 279
Cole Shelton - July 19, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev is looking forward to being Nate Diaz’s final UFC fight. On Tuesday, it was revealed by ESPN through Hunter Campbell of the UFC that Chimaev is booked to headline UFC 279 against Diaz. The news came as a surprise as just a week ago Diaz said he hadn’t been offered any fights and just wanted to fight out his contract. Now, he will fight out his deal against Chimaev and the Swede is looking forward to it.