MMA News
Rustam Khabilov signs with Bellator
Adam Martin - October 2, 2020
Former UFC lightweight contender Rustam Khabilov, who once defeated Jorge Masvidal, has signed a new multi-fight deal with Bellator. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani broke word that Khabilov signed with Bellator, noting that Khabilov fought out his contract with the UFC which allowed him to leave the promotion.
Cody Garbrandt out of UFC 255 flyweight title fight, will be replaced by Alex Perez
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is out of his planned UFC 255 title fight with reigning flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Alex Perez, who was scheduled to take on Brandon Moreno on the same card, will now step in against the champion. Brazilian publication Combate was first to report the news that Garbrandt is out of the fight. BJPENN.com has since confirmed the news.
UFC Fight Island 4 weigh-in results: Holm, Aldana make weight
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Fight Island 4 card on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The UFC Fight Island 4 event will be topped by a women’s bantamweight fight between the division’s former champion, Holly Holm, and surging Mexican contender Irene Aldana. If Aldana wins this fight, the expectation is that she’ll earn a crack at reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, while Holm could also be right back in title contention with a victory.
ONE atomweight champ Angela Lee announces pregnancy
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
ONE atomweight world champion Angela Lee and her husband, ONE lightweight contender Bruno Pucci, have announced that they’re having a baby. The two fighters made their announcements on social media on Friday.
Paul Daley explains why he nearly wound up in hospital following Bellator weigh-ins
Harry Kettle - October 2, 2020
Paul Daley has explained why he nearly ended up in hospital after failing to make weight for his scheduled Bellator 247 bout. Daley’s main event fight against Derek Anderson was called off after “Semtex” was unable to make the necessary weight that required him to compete. In the hours after he failed to weigh in, many were speculating as to whether or not the contest would still go ahead regardless of the circumstances.
Pros react to potential Israel Adesanya vs. Jon Jones fight
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
The beef between Ultimate Fighting Championship superstars Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones reignited following Saturday’s UFC 253 event. This past weekend on Fight Island, reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was able to keep his perfect record in check by handing Paulo Costa the first loss of his mixed martial arts career.
Diego Sanchez issues statement following UFC 253 loss to Jake Matthews
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez was looking to secure a future bout with Conor McGregor by impressively defeating Jake Matthews at UFC 253. Sanchez had expressed interest in having his final fight be against McGregor during UFC 253 fight week.
Report | UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa was a huge success
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
If the pay-per-view numbers being reported by Yahoo Sports are true, then last weekend’s UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa event was a massive success. This past Saturday night on Fight Island undisputed middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya put his unblemished record and championship gold on the line against undefeated contender Paulo Costa.
Volkan Oezdemir forced to withdraw from slated UFC co-main event with Nikita Krylov
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled October 17 bout with Nikita Krylov. Oezdemir and Krylov were slated to co-headline the upcoming UFC event Fight Island. However, due to a knee injury, ‘No Time‘ was forced to withdraw from the contest.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dana White promised him "something special" after UFC 254, manager drops hint
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov provided a hint on his future in fighting earlier today. The undefeated lightweight champion is set to defend his belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Many pundits are considering it the toughest test of his career. Yet, he remains confident he will get his hand raised. So, on a media call, he revealed Dana White has promised him something special if he wins.
Jon Jones continues trash talk of Israel Adesanya: "I’m waiting for you"
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Jon Jones has continued to take aim at Israel Adesanya. Ever since Adesanya TKO’d Paulo Costa at UFC 253 to defend his belt, Jones and Adesanya have been trash-talking one another. It has also been unpleasant as both men bringing each other’s families into it. So, after all the talk, “Bones” says he wonders if the middleweight champ will even want to fight him come 2021 as he said.
Justin Gaethje goes off on “coward” Colby Covington: “He’s a fake person”
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje went off on the “coward” Colby Covington, saying the star welterweight he is a “fake person.” Gaethje and Covington were both recently invited to United States President Donald Trump’s rally in Nevada and there were photographs released of Covington putting his arm on Gaethje’s shoulder, which surprised a lot of people. Covington is one of the most polarizing figures in the sport today as he’s either loved or hated. Count Gaethje among the latter of those people, as “The Highlight” made it clear he does not like Covington.
Alistair Overeem to Jairzinho Rozenstruik: "Let's run it back"
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
UFC heavyweight legend Alistair Overeem is hoping to get a rematch with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, telling his rival “let’s run it back.” Overeem and Rozenstruik first met at UFC Washington, D.C. last December. After dominating the fight for nearly the full 25 minutes, Overeem got caught with a big punch by Rozenstruik that knocked him to the ground and ripped his lip open. Referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in and waved the fight off at 4:56 of the fifth round, making it the latest UFC heavyweight stoppage of all time. The stoppage was controversial, however, with Overeem believing the referee stopped the fight too early.
Video | Paulo Costa returns to training, drops timeframe in next fight
Tom Taylor - October 1, 2020
Paulo Costa is already back in the gym following his loss to Israel Adesanya, and he’s hoping to get back in the Octagon in December. Costa challenged Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 last Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. Despite being hailed as the champion’s toughest foe to date, he was beaten fairly decisively, succumbing to a check-hook and volley of followup ground strikes in the second round.
Casey Kenney says all Heili Alateng has is "a basic right hand and wrestling," expects to finish him
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Casey Kenney was surprised Heili Alateng was his next opponent but knows it is a good matchup for him. Kenney is coming off a very impressive submission win over Louis Smolka and he thought a ranked opponent could be next. Yet, that will not be the case but he will take on Alateng who is 2-0 in the UFC, but Kenney still isn’t too impressed with him.
Michael Chandler explains why he's "extremely confident" he'd beat Khabib Nurmagomedov
Tom Taylor - October 1, 2020
Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is “extremely confident” he could beat UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, as it’s a fight he’s been preparing for for years. Chandler just made the jump from Bellator to the UFC, and has yet to make his debut in the Octagon. However, he’s had his eye on Nurmagomedov, who he forecasted as a future champion, for a long time.
Josh Barnett set to compete in bare-knuckle boxing match for KSW offshoot
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett will return to the ring when he takes on Marcin Rozalski in a bare-knuckle boxing match for KSW Genesis. KSW Genesis is an offshoot of Poland’s famed KSW promotion and on October 23, Barnett steps into the cage when he takes on Rozalski, the former KSW heavyweight champion. The fight will take place with modified bare-knuckle boxing rules as elbows will also be allowed. The bout will mark the bare-knuckle fighting debut for Barnett, who is one of the pioneers of the sport of mixed martial arts and the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Dequan Townsend shares inspiring message with MMA community after both brothers murdered in random act of violence
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
UFC middleweight Dequan Townsend has shared an inspiring message with the MMA community after both of his brothers were recently murdered. Townsend’s brother Marcus Jackson-Burton, 32, and his half-brother, Steven Lee Jackson, 31, were both murdered in a random act of violence in his native Lansing, Michigan, on August 4. The men were shot at a strip mall and left for dead, but Townsend hasn’t had time to grieve. The bigger brother of both men makes the walk to the Octagon this Saturday on Fight Island when he takes on Dusko Todorovic in what is a must-win fight.