MMA News
Scott Coker believes Bellator has superior light heavyweight division to UFC
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker has gone on record saying he believes Bellator has a superior light heavyweight division to the UFC. Coker and Bellator recently signed top-five light heavyweight Corey Anderson to a big-money free-agent deal, strengthening the division. Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader fights this Friday at Bellator 244 against top contender Vadim Nemkov, in what is an excellent matchup for the belt. Other light heavyweights in the promotion include Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis, who face each other in a rematch in September.
Johnny Walker plans on following the lead of Jon Jones and move to heavyweight
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker says he plans on following the lead of Jon Jones and move up to the heavyweight division. Walker is one of the biggest light heavyweights in the UFC, standing at 6’6″. At age 28 he is in the prime of his career right now, but as he approaches his 30s the cut to light heavyweight is going to get tougher and tougher. Following back-to-back defeats to Nikita Krylov and Corey Anderson, it makes sense that Walker is re-evaluating his career.
Fedor Emelianenko wants Fabricio Werdum rematch, Scott Coker to "make it happen"
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Fedor Emelianenko wants a rematch with Fabricio Werdum, and Bellator President Scott Coker is ready to “go make it happen” for the Russian legend. Emelianenko and Werdum first met in 2010, under the Strikeforce banner, with Werdum winning by submission in a shocking upset. Today, when Emelianenko is under contract with Bellator, and Werdum is a free agent, the timing for a rematch between the two heavyweight legends seems perfect.
Trevin Giles booked for Octagon return after fainting at recent UFC Vegas event
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
UFC middleweight Trevin Giles will return to the Octagon in November, his first fight back since recently fainting at a UFC Las Vegas event. Giles was set to fight Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan earlier this month. However, while making the walk to the Octagon, Giles fainted and the fight was called off on the advice of doctors. It was a scary incident and Giles was sent to the hospital for further tests on his heart. He recently posted videos of himself training so it appears that Giles is now OK despite the recent health scare.
Patricio Freire expects former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Patricio Freire, who holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, expects his former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champ, recently concluded his current Bellator contract with a knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
Video | Rafael dos Anjos looks in great shape ahead of return to 155lbs against Islam Makhachev
Adam Martin - August 20, 2020
Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos appears to be in tremendous shape ahead of a return to 155lbs against Islam Makhachev. As first reported by BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor, RDA will move back down to lightweight and he will meet a rising top-15 contender in the form of Makhachev. The two will battle it out on the undercard of UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje, which is set to take place on October 24. The event will likely take place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Bellator 244 weigh-in results: Ryan Bader clear for title defense
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
On Friday night, Bellator MMA will return to our screens with the stacked Bellator 244 card. The event, which will air on the Paramount Network and DAZN, will be topped by a light heavyweight title fight between the champ Ryan Bader, who also holds the promotion’s heavyweight strap, and challenger Vadim Nemkov.
Marvin Vettori believes Anderson Silva and Uriah Hall should be forced to give up their positions in the UFC rankings
Natasha Hooper - August 20, 2020
Marvin Vettori believes Anderson Silva and Uriah Hall should have to forfeit their positions in the UFC rankings after avoiding a possible matchup with him. Anderson Silva will return to the Octagon on October 31 for a middleweight clash against Uriah Hall in the main event.
Jon Jones responds to accusations that he's ducking Reyes, Blachowicz
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
Jon Jones has responded to accusations that he’s ducking fights with light heavyweight contenders Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz. Jones, the long-time UFC light heavyweight champion, vacated the division’s throne earlier this week, and immediately began teasing a move up to the heavyweight division. As Jones prepares to transition to his new weight class, Reyes and Blachowicz will collide for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 253 in September.
Dominick Reyes shares theory on why Jon Jones is moving to heavyweight
Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes has a theory about why Jon Jones is moving up to the heavyweight division. Reyes, who came up short via a controversial judges’ decision in a February showdown with Jones, will fight Jan Blachowicz for the division’s vacant throne at UFC 253 in September. Jones, meanwhile, has been teasing a move up to heavyweight after vacating the light heavyweight title earlier this week.
Israel Adesanya accuses Paulo Costa of being “juiced to the f**king gills” ahead of UFC 253
Natasha Hooper - August 20, 2020
Israel Adesanya has accused his upcoming opponent Paulo Costa of using steroids and being “juiced up to the gills” ahead of their UFC 253 fight. In the main event of UFC 253 on August 26, the middleweight champion will face-off against his rival, Costa.
Dustin Poirier expresses interest in potential fights with Tony Ferguson and Nate Diaz
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier has shown interest in potentially fighting Tony Ferguson or Nate Diaz in his next bout. While Poirier may have come up short in his attempt to capture the UFC Lightweight Championship against Khabib Nurmagomedov last year, he was able to bounce back in a big way back in June when he scored a unanimous decision victory over one of the division’s rising stars Dan Hooker.
Michael Chandler hints at potential UFC fight against Dustin Poirier
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
Former Bellator lightweight champion and current free agent Michael Chandler has hinted at a potential UFC fight against Dustin Poirier. Chandler recently finished his Bellator contract with a stunning KO win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the last fight of his deal. He has made it clear that he intends on testing the free-agent market and both the UFC and ONE Championship have been suggested as potential landing spots if he leaves Bellator. Indeed, UFC president Dana White recently confirmed that he intends on sitting down and talking to Chandler soon.
Dominick Reyes explains why Jan Blachowicz is a tougher matchup than Jon Jones
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Dominick Reyes knows Jan Blachowicz will not be an easy out. In the co-main event of UFC 253 on September 26, Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz will be fighting for the vacant light heavyweight title. On Monday, Jon Jones announced on Twitter he would be vacating the belt and the UFC swiftly promoted the Reyes vs Blachowicz matchup to be for the vacant title.
Marlon Vera believes he made Sean O'Malley "quit" at UFC 252, wants Jimmie Rivera next
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Marlon Vera had no doubt in his mind he would be the first person to beat Sean O’Malley. In the co-main event of UFC 252, O’Malley was looking to remain undefeated against Vera. It was an intriguing matchup with many pundits thinking it would be “Sugar” getting his hand raised.
Ovince Saint Preux on Alonzo Menifield fight: "I can break him in the first round"
Cole Shelton - August 19, 2020
Ovince Saint Preux had no hesitation when offered a bout with Alonzo Menifield on short notice. Originally, Saint Preux was expected to battle Shamil Gamzatov this Saturday night but his opponent withdrew. On just a week and a half notice, Menifield took the fight. For “OSP,” he says he just wanted to fight and the opponent didn’t matter.
Corey Anderson says he signed big-money contract with Bellator: "I make more than I would have in the UFC"
Adam Martin - August 19, 2020
Newly-signed Bellator light heavyweight Corey Anderson says he will make more money in Bellator than what he would have made in the UFC. A former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, the news that Anderson had been released by the UFC and signed with Bellator a few weeks ago took many by surprise. Despite a knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz in his last fight, Anderson was still the No. 4 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC. In November 2019, he picked up a POTN bonus for knocking out Johnny Walker. His release from the UFC was a very big surprise.
Cat Zingano gets opponent for Bellator debut
Tom Taylor - August 19, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Cat Zingano has an opponent for her long-awaited debut in the Bellator MMA cage. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Zingano will make her debut with the promotion on September 11, when she’ll take on Gabby Holloway.