MMA News
Jan Blachowicz open to fighting Aleksandar Rakic next
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz says that he is open to fighting Aleksandar Rakic in his next fight inside the Octagon. Blachowicz lost his belt last month at UFC 267 when he was submitted in the first round by Glover Teixeira in what was a big upset. It was a disappointing loss for Blachowicz, who was coming off of a huge win over Israel Adesanya in his last fight. But he is already looking to get back into the cage and get back on track. Although losing that fight to Teixeira was one of the low points of Blachowicz’s UFC career, he often bounces back well from losses, and the Pole is confident that he can make it back to the top of the mountain.
Kayla Harrison on a potential Amanda Nunes fight: "It's just business"
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison spoke on a potential Amanda Nunes fight, suggesting that “it’s just business.” Harrison is currently a free agent and she has spoken to several MMA promotions including the UFC, Bellator, and PFL about fighting there in 2022. If Harrison ends up in the UFC, she would likely be next to fight the UFC women’s featherweight champion Nunes, who is her teammate at American Top Team. Despite being teammates, though, this is the fight game, and as Harrison told MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview, “it’s just business.”
Gilbert Burns explains why Kamaru Usman would have beaten a prime Georges St-Pierre
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns explained why current 170lbs champ Kamaru Usman would have beaten a prime Georges St-Pierre. Burns fought Usman earlier this year at UFC 258 and he used to train with him at Sanford MMA, so Burns knows “The Nigerian Nightmare” quite well. He also knows GSP quite well. Although Burns didn’t get a chance to fight him, he has watched St-Pierre compete for many years and knows what his game is all about. So when you ask Burns about who would win between a prime Usman and a prime GSP, his answer gets very interesting.
Khamzat Chimaev calls out Colby Covington: "Call the cops I'm coming for you"
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
Rising UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev called out top-raked Colby Covington, saying to “call the cops I’m coming for you.” Chimaev took to his social media early on Tuesday morning to go after Covington and make several tweets about him calling him out. Check out what Chimaev wrote on his Twitter.
Beneil Dariush breaks down upcoming UFC fight with Islam Makhachev
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
Alexander Volkanovski explains why Henry Cejudo fight doesn't benefit him
Adam D Martin - November 30, 2021
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski explained why a Henry Cejudo fight doesn’t benefit him, but mostly benefits Cejudo. Cejudo has been calling out Volkanovski for months as he wants to return to the UFC at a third weight class and look to make history by winning a third UFC belt in a third division. Volkanovski, meanwhile, has not conveyed much interest in the fight as he already has a long list of challengers vying for his gold at 145lbs, including former champ Max Holloway.
Daniel Cormier responds to wrestling challenge from Khamzat Chimaev: “Love that you’re confident but brother this is 10-0 DC!”
Harry Kettle - November 30, 2021
Daniel Cormier has questioned the logic of Khamzat Chimaev after “Borz” challenged him to a wrestling match. It’s safe to say that Khamzat Chimaev is a confident young man. From his 4-0 start in the UFC to what he says on social media, he’s attempting to edge his way towards a title shot – and he’s also challenging everyone under the sun.
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson explains why he has no interest in being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame
Harry Kettle - November 30, 2021
Former UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has explained why he isn’t interested in being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has spent the last eight years of his career competing in Bellator MMA. While he’s had some success in the promotion, it seems as if he’s edging towards the idea of a move over to boxing – especially after his involvement in Triller’s Triad Combat event.
Photo | Cody Garbrandt is skin and bone ahead of UFC flyweight debut
Christopher Taylor - November 29, 2021
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Grabrandt is looking incredibly skinny two weeks ahead of his flyweight debut. Garbrandt (12-4 MMA) made the decision to test the waters at 125lbs following his unanimous decision loss to Rob Font back in May. That setback served as Cody’s fourth in his past five fights, with three of those defeats coming by way of knockout.
Khabib Nurmagomedov advises Dustin Poirier to be cautious in UFC title fight with Charles Oliveira: "This guy is real finisher, he's very dangerous"
Christopher Taylor - November 29, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov has advised former opponent Dustin Poirier to avoid the “red zone” of Charles Oliveira in their upcoming fight at UFC 269. Poirier (28-6 MMA) will challenge Oliveira (31-8 MMA) for the promotions lightweight world title on December 11 in Las Vegas.
Diego Sanchez continues to battle for his life in hospital: "No fight camp or opponent has dominated me like this
Christopher Taylor - November 29, 2021
UFC legend Diego Sanchez remains hospitalized while enduring what he calls the “biggest fight of a fighters life”. The former UFC lightweight title challenger, Sanchez (30-13 MMA), took to social media last week where he shared a photo from a hospital bed revealing he has both pneumonia and COVID-19.
Khabib Nurmagomedov doubles down on support of Islam Makhachev getting title shot, 'If you have a nine-fight win streak, you have to fight for the title'
Drake Riggs - November 29, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t be changing his mind anytime soon when it comes to the UFC lightweight title picture. The former king of the division recently shared his thoughts on the matter when telling former challenger Justin Gaethje that he “fell asleep” in his lone undisputed opportunity. Despite a recent victory in an instant classic with Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Gaethje is behind Islam Makhachev in the pecking order according to “The Eagle.”
UFC Vegas 43 rankings update: Taila Santos jumps into top-five in women's flyweight division
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2021
Following her latest win, Taila Santos has jumped into the top-five in the women’s flyweight division in the latest set of the UFC rankings. Santos obliterated Joanne Wood at UFC Vegas 43 when she knocked her down twice and then choked her out for the biggest win of her MMA career to date. Santos, who is now 4-1 overall in the UFC, made a huge leap up the latest set of UFC rankings, jumping all the way to No. 5 in the promotion at her weight class. As for Wood, she dropped down to No. 6, and everyone else who was above Santos originally but below Wood also fell by one spot.
Anderson Silva reveals the most important fight of his MMA career
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2021
Speaking in a new interview, former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva revealed the most important fight of his MMA career. Silva, who is currently competing in boxing, is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. For over 20 years, Silva was competing at the top of the food chain in MMA. He has fought and defeated many of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, and he has also been in a number of memorable fights. But if you ask Silva, there is one fight that stands out above.
Charles Oliveira praised by former rival Jim Miller following career turnaround: "It's absolutely awesome to see"
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2021
Charles Oliveira was praised by former rival Jim Miller following career turnaround, with Miller saying “it’s absolutely awesome to see.” Oliveira and Miller have fought twice in the past. The first time they met was in December 2010 at UFC 124, with Miller submitting Oliveira with a nasty kneebar. They then fought again in 2018 at UFC on FOX: Lee vs. Iaquinta, and this time it was Oliveira who finished Miller with a first-round submission. Given that Miller is not a ranked lightweight anymore, a trilogy fight with Oliveira seems hard to see ever happening. But that’s okay with Miller. As far as the veteran goes, he is just very happy to see how well Oliveira has been doing.
Carla Esparza says Joanna Jedrzejczyk rematch "would be a much different fight"
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2021
Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza says that a Joanna Jedrzejczyk rematch “would be a much different fight.” Esparza defeated Yan Xiaonan earlier this year by TKO in one of the best performances of her UFC career to date. The former champ is now hoping the UFC gives her a title shot against UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas — who Esparza previously defeated to become the UFC’s first-ever 115lbs women’s champ — but that is no sure thing. UFC president Dana White has hinted that the promotion is instead looking at a potential matchup for the title between Namajunas and Marina Rodriguez instead, which would leave Esparza on the sidelines without a fight. However, she says she would fight Jedrzejczyk.
Alex Pereira "three fights" away from fighting Israel Adesanya, says Glover Teixeira
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2021
New UFC middleweight fighter Alex Pereira is “three fights” away from fighting Israel Adesanya for the championship, says Glover Teixeira. Pereira is a former GLORY kickboxing star who made his UFC debut earlier this month at UFC 268 in spectacular fashion when he knocked out Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee. Considering Pereira holds a previous KO win over Adesanya in kickboxing, his teammate Teixeira believes that win will help him fast-track up the 185lbs ladder and get closer to a title shot against the champ. As far as Teixeira goes, it’s possible that we could see Pereira fight for the UFC middleweight title in just three fights if he continues to look in sharp form.
Rachael Ostovich thankful for solid pay from BKFC after “almost going broke fighting in MMA”
Harry Kettle - November 29, 2021
Rachael Ostovich has spoken candidly about how thankful she is for the pay she’s received thus far in BKFC. While she may be best known for her stint in the UFC, Ostovich made an intriguing transition over to bare-knuckle boxing back in the summer. In her debut for BKFC, she managed to secure a unanimous decision win over Paige VanZant – the same woman who submitted her back in January 2019.
Fabricio Werdum shares detailed prediction for Ciryl Gane vs Francis Ngannou title fight
Harry Kettle - November 29, 2021
UFC veteran Fabricio Werdum has given his thoughts on what will go down between Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou at UFC 270. In January, we’ll finally see Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou collide with the undisputed UFC heavyweight title on the line. Ngannou is the reigning champion, but many believe Gane will pose a significant threat to his reign as the king of the division.