MMA News
Cory Sandhagen opens as big favorite over Frankie Edgar
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen opened up as a big betting favorite for his upcoming battle against Frankie Edgar in early 2021. Sandhagen takes on Edgar on the undercard of the upcoming Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov card that is set for February 6 of next year. With the fight now official, the sportsbooks have released the opening betting odds for this intriguing Sandhagen vs. Edgar bout. Check out the opening odds below (via BestFightOdds).
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to potential Carla Esparza title shot: "Rose is next"
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacted to the potential of Carla Esparza getting a title shot, saying “Rose is next.” We all thought the plan was for UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang to fight Rose Namajunas next, but UFC president Dana White recently got into a public disagreement with Team Namajunas about her desire to actually fight for the belt. According to White, Namajunas doesn’t want to fight Zhang for the belt and the UFC is considering giving the title shot at 115lbs to the former champion Esparza instead. On her end, Team Namajunas has denied that and says that she just wants to fight.
Georges St-Pierre announces new partnership with Budweiser Zero
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Georges St-Pierre told fight fans he’d be making a special announcement on Wednesday, and he came through on that promise. Whether it’s the announcement fight fans were hoping for, however, is up for debate.
Dustin Poirier "most deserving of a title shot," says Khabib Nurmagomedov coach
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Coach Javier Mendez believes that if his star pupil, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, retires, Dustin Poirier should fight for the vacant belt. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after a submission victory over Justin Gaethje in October. That being said, he still hasn’t vacated the lightweight title, due primarily to the fact that UFC President Dana White hopes he’ll fight again.
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones deserves heavyweight title shot
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Daniel Cormier believes former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones deserves an immediate crack at the UFC light heavyweight title. Jones ruled over the UFC light heavyweight division for many years—battling Cormier twice in that span—but recently vacated his throne with plans to move up to heavyweight.
Tony Ferguson reflects on meeting with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson recently took a little trip down memory lane, reflecting on a meeting with his long-time rival Conor McGregor. Ferguson and McGregor have stood out as two of the UFC’s top lightweights for many years. Somewhat miraculously, however, the pair have never shared the cage.
Minowaman previews "explosively inspiring, wacky fight" at RIZIN 26
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Minowaman, a legend among hardcore fight fans, is headed to the RIZIN Fighting Federation ring. The 44-year-old, who has competed in well over 100 mixed martial arts bouts and many pro wrestling matches, will take on jūryō-ranked sumo Tsuyoshi Sudario at RIZIN 26 inside the Saitama Super Arena on New Years Eve.
Magomed Ankalaev set to return against fellow light heavyweight contender Nikita Krylov on February 27
Harry Kettle - December 30, 2020
Top light heavyweight contenders will meet in late February as Magomed Ankalaev prepares to lock horns with Nikita Krylov. These two titans at 205 pounds will be hoping to make a statement to kickstart 2021 with both coming off the back of 2020 wins over legitimate names – Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker respectively.
Conor McGregor will finish Dustin Poirier inside two rounds at UFC 257, says Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - December 29, 2020
Dillon Danis expects Conor McGregor to beat Dustin Poirier pretty quickly at UFC 257. On January 23, McGregor and Poirier will have their rematch six-and-a-half years in the making. The two first fought in September of 2014 with the Irishman winning by first-round knockout. For Danis, he believes the result at UFC 257 will be very similar as he expects his teammate to KO “The Diamond” inside two rounds.
Coach: If Calvin Kattar doesn't get a title shot with a win over Holloway "there is superior politics going on"
Cole Shelton - December 29, 2020
Tyson Chartier believes Calvin Kattar will be fighting for a UFC title sometime in the middle of 2021. Entering 2020, Chartier and Kattar set out a goal of going 3-0 after a disappointing loss to Zabit Magomedsharipov in November. The hope was the New England Cartel member would get the hype behind his name back and everyone would forget about the loss. So far, that is exactly what has happened.
Cris Cyborg teases "big news soon" in Bellator
Adam Martin - December 29, 2020
Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg teased her fans on social media that she has “big news soon” as Bellator heads into 2021. Taking to her social media ahead of the new year, Cyborg teased her fans that she has big news coming soon, all while tagging Bellator in the post, indicating a fight announcement. Check out what the Brazilian wrote on her social media below.
UFC odds: Which fighters will close out 2021 as champions?
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
The bookmakers at BetOnline.ag are expecting fighters like Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, and Petr Yan to conclude 2021 as UFC champions. This week, the sportsbook released betting lines for the champions of a number of UFC weight classes by the end of 2021.
Kevin Holland gets March headlining spot against Derek Brunson
Adam Martin - December 29, 2020
UFC middleweight contenders Kevin Holland and Derek Brunson will meet in the headliner of a UFC Fight Night card that is set for March 2021. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report that Holland vs. Brunson will headline a UFC Fight Night event that takes place on March 20 at a location that has yet to be determined. The report says that both Holland and Brunson have verbally agreed to the bout with the only thing left being for both men to put fresh ink on the contract.
Leon Edwards makes his intentions clear after Chimaev exit: "I want to fight January 20th on the island"
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards has made his intentions very clear: he wants to compete on UFC Fight Island on January 20. Edwards was previously expected to fight rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of a Fight Night card scheduled for January 20 on the island. Regrettably, Chimaev has been forced out of the fight for undisclosed reasons, leaving Edwards without a dance partner for the card.
Leon Edwards targeted by Holland and Luque after Chimaev withdrawal
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Kevin Holland and Vicente Luque have both offered to step in against Leon Edwards on January 20. Edwards, the UFC’s No. 3-ranked welterweight, was originally expected to battle Khamzat Chimaev in the January 20 card’s main event. Unfortunately, Chimaev has been forced out of that fight for undisclosed reasons, casting Edwards’ immediate future in uncertainty.
Gilbert Burns admits its a "blessing" he didn't fight Kamaru Usman in July
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Gilbert Burns says it’s a “blessing” he didn’t end up fighting Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship in July. Burns was originally slated to challenge Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, for the division’s strap in the main event of UFC 251 in July. Regrettably, he ended up coming down with COVID-19, and was forced out of the fight as a result.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to receiving 2020 Fight of the Year honors
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has reacted to receiving Fight of the Year honors at the 2020 World MMA Awards. Jedrzejczyk received this honor for her part in a fight with UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang. The pair met in the co-main event of UFC 248 in March, with Zhang’s title on the line. While Jedrzejczyk ultimately came up short in the matchup, there were no real losers in the fight, as the two women left everything they had in the Octagon.
Jordan Leavitt explains why he was embarrassed to be a pro fighter prior to KO win at UFC Vegas 16
Harry Kettle - December 29, 2020
Rising UFC star Jordan Leavitt has explained why he was embarrassed to be a professional fighter prior to his UFC Vegas 16 victory. Leavitt, who pulled off an impressive submission win over Luke Flores on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year, sent a real message to the rest of his division after knocking Matt Wiman out with a devastating slam just 20 seconds into their clash at the start of December.