MMA News
Kamaru Usman shoves Colby Covington in faceoff after heated press conference (Video)
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2021
Kamaru Usman shoved Colby Covington at the conclusion of the UFC 268 press conference which saw both of them get heated. Usman and Covington have a heated rivalry as the two generally do not like one another. Their first encounter at UFC 245 was heated and the fight exceeded expectations. Now, ahead of UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden the two rivals picked up where they left off and after the press conference, Usman shoved Covington in their faceoff.
Colby Covington says if you believe in ring rust you are 'mentally weak' ahead of return at UFC 268
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2021
Colby Covington doesn’t want to hear any talk of ring rust and how that might impact him. Covington is set to return in the main event of UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden against Kamaru Usman. The two will finally have their highly-anticipated rematch and it will be the first time in 14 months that Covington fought and the rematch will happen with a new team behind “Chaos” which he says was needed.
Kamaru Usman explains what it would take for him to move up to middleweight and fight Israel Adesanya
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2021
Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya are very close and they have said they would never fight one another, but Usman says there is one way they fight. Usman, Adesanya, and Ngannou are the three African UFC champions and they all call each other brothers and root for each another. With that, both the welterweight and middleweight champ have said they would never compete against one another.
Michael Bisping responds following “see you soon” threat from Dillon Danis: “I’ll send location any time you little sh*t stain”
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
Michael Bisping responded following the “see you soon” threat from Dillon Danis, saying “I’ll send location any time you little sh*t stain.” Bisping and Danis went back-and-forth on social media recently. Check out the exchange below as the former UFC middleweight champion and the Bellator star exchanged words.
Frankie Edgar knows Marlon Vera is 'dangerous' but is prepared to do 'whatever it takes' to win at UFC 268
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2021
Frankie Edgar still has title aspirations and that continues on Saturday night in Madison Square Garden at UFC 268. Edgar is set to return to the Octagon against Marlon Vera, and for Edgar, when he heard the UFC was going to be back at MSG he jumped at the chance to be on the card.
Ian Garry plans to prove 'the hype is real' with a first-round KO over Jordan Williams at UFC 268: 'I want him stiff'
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2021
Ian Garry knows he’s the next big thing in the UFC and he plans to prove that at UFC 268. Garry is the former Cage Warriors welterweight champion and he’s an undefeated Irish phenom. He’ll make his debut at Madison Square Garden against Jordan Williams and Garry knows the UFC sees something special in him.
Khamzat Chimaev responds after receiving multiple insults from Colby Covington
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev responded after receiving multiple insults from his divisional rival Colby Covington. Covington took shots at Chimaev at the UFC 268 pre-fight press conference. In addition to poking fun of his name and calling him “Cumshot” Chimaev, Covington also poked fun at Chimaev for contracting COVID-19 and temporarily retiring from the sport. There are very few fighters who are able to get under the skin of their rivals the way that Covington has, and just a day after making all of these insults, Chimaev shot back at him on social media.
Jiri Prochazka denies being offered fight against "liar" Aleksandar Rakic
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka has denied being offered an upcoming fight against “liar” Aleksandar Rakic. Prochazka was the backup on Fight Island for the main event of UFC 268 between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. While Blachowicz entered the fight as a big favorite to defend his UFC light heavyweight title, it was Teixeira who emerged as the champion. The common thinking is that Prochazka will be next in line to fight for the belt, but UFC president Dana White was non-committal to that when asked by the media following UFC 268. Because White hasn’t come out and 100 percent confirmed that Prochazka is next in line, there is the possibility now that Prochazka will have to fight Rakic instead.
Justin Gaethje says he will "riot" if he doesn't get a title shot for beating Michael Chandler at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje says he will “riot” if he doesn’t get a title shot for beating Michael Chandler at UFC 268. Gaethje returns to the Octagon after a 13-month layoff when he takes on Chandler in the UFC 268 pay-per-view main card opener. For Gaethje, this is a huge fight for him as he looks to bounce back from his submission loss to former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254, while it’s equally as important for Chandler’s career. After knocking out Dan Hooker in his UFC debut, Chandler lost by knockout to Charles Oliveira in his last fight in a failed bid to become the new UFC lightweight champ. So both Gaethje and Chandler are coming off of losses heading into this bout and they both desperately need a win here if they want to remain alive in the crowded UFC lightweight title picture.
Dana White lashes out at “morons” complaining about a possible Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz fight
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
UFC president Dana White lashed out at the “morons” who are complaining about a possible Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz fight. White recently revealed that he is going to offer Diaz the fight against Chimaev, who has become one of the biggest stars in the UFC these days following his big win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. However, Diaz doesn’t appear to be super interested in the fight. Quite frankly, there are a lot of fans who also don’t seem to be too keen on this fight booking, as there have been plenty of complaints by fans since the potential fight was rumored. However, White believes the people complaining about the fight are “morons.”
Alex Pereira focused on becoming UFC champion, not Israel Adesanya: “Maybe if I had lost to him it would annoy me a little bit”
Adam D Martin - November 4, 2021
Alex Pereira is focused on becoming UFC champion, not Israel Adesanya, saying “maybe if I had lost to him it would annoy me a little bit.” Pereira is a former GLORY kickboxing standout who will be making his UFC debut this Saturday when he takes on Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. In his kickboxing past, Pereira actually defeated Adesanya, the current UFC middleweight champion. Although Pereira is fighting against Michailidis this weekend, he can’t help but think ahead to a potential fight with Adesanya, especially when asked by the media. But Pereira also wants to make it perfectly clear that his focus is 100 percent on becoming the UFC champ, not Adesanya.
Justin Gaethje explains why Edson Barboza was the UFC opponent he was “the most terrified of”
Harry Kettle - November 4, 2021
Justin Gaethje has explained why Edson Barboza was the UFC opponent he was the most terrified of fighting. This Saturday night, Justin Gaethje is set to return to the Octagon for the first time since being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. He’ll be doing so at Madison Square Garden, and he’ll be competing against fellow top contender Michael Chandler.
Khabib Nurmagomedov calls Kamaru Usman ahead of UFC 268, tells him to 'smash' Colby Covington
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov FaceTimed Kamaru Usman to wish him luck ahead of his UFC 268 title defense against Colby Covington. Nurmagomedov and Usman are both managed by Ali Abdelaziz and they have spoken to one another and have a relationship. Yet, when Usman was in a car with Abdelaziz he got a FaceTime call from “The Eagle” who told him to smash Covington.
Vicente Luque to serve as backup fighter for UFC 268 main event, Leon Edwards declined the role first
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2021
Vicente Luque is in New York City and will weigh in to be the backup fighter for UFC 268. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Luque will be the backup fighter for the welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in Madison Square Garden.
Kamaru Usman confident he'll stop Colby Covington in a 'flawless' performance at UFC 268
Cole Shelton - November 3, 2021
Kamaru Usman believes he’ll finish Colby Covington again at UFC 268. In the main event of the stacked pay-per-view card, Usman is set to have his highly-anticipated rematch against Covington. The two fought at UFC 245 in one of the best fights of 2019 as they went back-and-forth before Usman got the fifth-round TKO.
Colby Covington trashes Khamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 268: "Let’s not forget that he was put down by the common cold"
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
Colby Covington trashed Khamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 268, saying “let’s not forget that he was put down by the common cold.” Covington is set to take on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 268 this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It is a rematch between the two bitter rivals after they previously met at UFC 245 in December 2019. That night, it was Usman who defeated Covington via fifth-round knockout. This weekend, Covington will finally get the chance to exact revenge on his bitter rival.
Vicente Luque reiterates callout of Nate Diaz for December UFC card: "I want the challenge"
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque reiterated his callout of Nate Diaz for an upcoming December UFC card, saying “I want the challenge.” Luque called out Diaz following his submission win over Michael Chiesa at UFC 265 back in August, and Luque and Diaz have gone back-and-forth on social media over the last few months. Right now, it seems like the UFC is more interested in booking Diaz against Khamzat Chimaev, but if you ask Luque, this is still the fight that he hopes the UFC books.
Daniel Cormier suggests Khamzat Chimaev fight Gilbert Burns next
Adam D Martin - November 3, 2021
UFC commentator Daniel Cormier suggested that emerging welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev fight against Gilbert Burns next. Chimaev absolutely destroyed Li Jingliang on the UFC 267 main card in what was by far the most impressive performance of his career. He is now a perfect 4-0 in the Octagon and there are some who believe that Chimaev should be fast-tracked towards a title shot. However, it seems likely that he will have to fight at least one more time before the UFC gives him the shot at the UFC welterweight title. The promotion is reportedly looking into the possibility of a fight against Nate Diaz, but so far, nothing has been made official.