MMA News
Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury 'quite close' to being made official for the end of the year
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2021
Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury is close to being made official. According to Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, the fight is nearly agreed to and will take place in November or December. The two sides have been talking ever since both men picked up wins in August and now it has finally got to a point where a deal seems imminent.
Jon Jones says he 'never hit' his fiancée, nor did his daughters wake up to their argument
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2021
Jon Jones denies ever hitting his fiancée. In late September after the Hall of Fame ceremony, Jones was charged with battery, domestic violence, and injuring and tampering with a vehicle. Police audio then came out where the security officer at the hotel called police to report the domestic. The audio detailed that Jones allegedly pulled her hair and hit her, as she had a bleeding mouth.
Jon Jones issues statement after being kicked out of Jackson-Wink MMA
Adam Martin - October 13, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones issued a statement after being kicked out of his gym, Jackson-Wink MMA. On Wednesday, Jones’ longtime striking coach Mike Winkeljohn spoke to The MMA Hour’s Ariel Helwani and revealed that “Bones” had been booted from Team Jackson-Wink after his latest arrest. According to Winkeljohn, it was a difficult decision for him to make, but one that he had to do as he is a father of three and a husband himself. After learning of Jones’ arrest in Las Vegas last month for domestic battery, Winkeljohn had no choice but to tell Jones to stop drinking and to stay away from the gym until he turns his life around.
Conor McGregor insults Dagestan with suggestions of inbreeding, sparks heated feud with Ali Abdelaziz: “When you die, I celebrate”
Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021
Conor McGregor insulted Dagestan with suggestions of inbreeding, sparking a heated feud with Ali Abdelaziz: “When you die, I celebrate.” McGregor and Abdelaziz have gotten into it on social media and in interviews before, so clearly there is no love lost between these two. McGregor, of course, was longtime rivals with Abdelaziz’s client Khabib Nurmagomedov. Even though “The Eagle” is retired from MMA these days, McGregor continues to take shots at him whenever he can. On Wednesday, McGregor fired a shot at Nurmagomedov and Abdelaziz replied back. That led to a bit of a flaming war between McGregor and Abdelaziz, as you can see below.
Brent Primus expects to KO Benson Henderson and earn a title shot: 'I'm going to throw f*****g bombs'
Cole Shelton - October 13, 2021
Brent Primus has been asking for a big-name opponent for quite some time and he gets his wish on Saturday night at Bellator 268. Primus returned in July and lost a controversial split decision to Islam Mamedov in a fight many thought he won. After the fight, he asked his management and Bellator for a high-profile fight. He got just that as he will face Benson Henderson on Saturday in Arizona.
Justin Gaethje expresses his disdain for Colby Covington but admits “he’s a good fighter”
Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje expressed his disdain for welterweight Colby Covington but admitted that “he’s a good fighter.” Gaethje is set to take on Michael Chandler at UFC 268 next month in an important fight between two of the top-five ranked lightweights in the world. In the main event of the card, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman fights Covington in a rematch. For Gaethje, he is teammates with Usman training under coach Trevor Wittman. So Gaethje is invested in this main event between Usman and Covington more than most people are.
Paul Felder teases UFC comeback: "I have missed it tremendously"
Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021
Former top-10 ranked UFC lightweight Paul Felder, who is currently working as a commentator for the promotion, is teasing a UFC comeback. Felder retired from MMA back in May, saying that he was focusing on his work as an analyst with the UFC. However, just four months later, it appears that Felder misses the sport and he wants to get back into the cage. Speaking to UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald following Tuesday night’s Dana White’s Contender Series, Felder admitted that he is considering a comeback, though he stopped short of 100% confirming his return.
Kamaru Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time, not Georges St-Pierre, says manager
Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021
Current UFC champion Kamaru Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time, and not Georges St-Pierre, says Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. Usman is set to take on Colby Covington next month at UFC 268 in a grudge match between the two rivals. If Usman wins, it would cap off a remarkable year where he has already finished Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal by knockout. With all of his impressive wins as of late, Usman has stormed to the top of the UFC’s P4P rankings. And in the eyes of his manager, he has also surpassed GSP as being the greatest welterweight of all time.
Benson Henderson perplexed by Bellator’s vacant lightweight title fight: “Why in the world would you have a title fight and not have me in it”
Adam D Martin - October 13, 2021
Benson Henderson was perplexed by Bellator’s vacant lightweight title fight, suggesting that he should have been given the next title shot. Former Bellator lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull recently vacated his belt, and the vacant title fight will feature his brother, Patricky Pitbull, against Peter Queally in a rematch. But as far as Henderson goes, it should have been him in line for the title.
Jan Blachowicz on Jon Jones recent arrest: “I’m not surprised. Wake up a month and I think we’re going to hear this story again”
Harry Kettle - October 13, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has revealed that he wasn’t particularly surprised by the recent arrest of Jon Jones. Ever since Jones departed the 205-pound division, Jan Blachowicz has been the main man at the top of the mountain. He beat Dominick Reyes for the strap before successfully defending it against Israel Adesanya and at the end of this month, he’ll take his talents to Fight Island where he will defend the gold against fellow veteran Glover Teixeira.
Dana White discusses the UFC release of Luis Pena and if something similar could happen to Jon Jones
Harry Kettle - October 13, 2021
UFC president Dana White has spoken about the UFC release of Luis Pena and whether something similar could happen to Jon Jones. Just a few days ago Luis Pena was arrested on charges of domestic violence, just a few months removed from being arrested for robbery, battery, and criminal mischief. While the outcome of his case has yet to be determined, the UFC acted swiftly by releasing Pena from his contract with the promotion.
Dana White shares his thoughts on Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder 3: "It was exactly what boxing needed"
Christopher Taylor - October 12, 2021
UFC President Dana White shared his thoughts on last weekend’s Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder trilogy following tonight’s Contender Series event. Fury put his WBO and The Ring heavyweight titles on the line last Saturday in Las Vegas, when he squared off with Wilder for a third time.
Luis Pena released from UFC following his arrest for domestic violence
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2021
Luis Pena is no longer a member of the UFC’s roster. Pena was arrested for the second time this year as on Saturday he was arrested and jailed in Deerfield Beach, Florida on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and battery. He has been booked at the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale. Back in June, he was arrested on felony charges of robbery, battery, and criminal mischief.
Sean Strickland blasts Belal Muhammad for running his mouth after callout: 'I'm going to smack you'
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2021
Sean Strickland is not a fan of Belal Muhammad and he says he wants to smack him. After Luke Rockhold was forced out of his UFC 268 fight against Strickland, several fighters including Muhammad called him out. Although Muhammad competes at welterweight he said Strickland isn’t a big middleweight and wants to beat him up as he “hates that piece of trash.” To no surprise, that did not sit well for the seventh-ranked middleweight.
Raulian Paiva claims Sean O'Malley wimps out when the going gets tough, expects to submit 'Suga' at UFC 269
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2021
Raulian Paiva believes his UFC 269 opponent in Sean O’Malley wimps out when the going gets tough and put under pressure. Paiva is coming off a decision win over Kyler Phillips in a hard-fought fight and will now fight O’Malley at UFC 269. It’s an intriguing matchup but for the Brazilian, he says he plans to pressure “Suga” from the get-go and make it a difficult fight for him.
UFC Vegas 39 rankings update: Joanna Jedrzejczyk moves up women's P4P rankings
Adam D Martin - October 12, 2021
The UFC rankings have been updated following UFC Vegas 39, and notably, Joanna Jedrzejczyk moved up women’s P4P rankings. Notably, Jedrzejczyk didn’t even compete at UFC Vegas 39. In fact, the main event saw fellow strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez fight against Mackenzie Dern in the main event and defeat her via unanimous decision in a breakthrough performance. As expected, Rodriguez moved up in the 115lbs rankings. She moved from No. 6 to No. 4, with Dern dropping down to No. 6 and with Yan Xiaonan at No. 5. As well, Rodriguez debuted at No. 10 overall in the women’s P4P rankings. It is a well-deserved ranking given how good she has looked in her last three fights, wins over Dern, Michelle Waterson, and Amanda Ribas.
Casey O'Neill says Antonina Shevchenko win 'was a big improvement from my last fights,' didn't expect to get ranked
Cole Shelton - October 12, 2021
Casey O’Neill knew she would be able to finish Antonina Shevchenko in their UFC Vegas 38 fight. O’Neill was 2-0 in the UFC with two finishes but early on, Shevchenko had success. She had O’Neill in a troubling spot but the 24-year-old was able to get out of it and then take over the round. In the second round, she dominated it and eventually got the stoppage win.
Dustin Poirier is the best lightweight in the world, not Charles Oliveira, says coach
Adam D Martin - October 12, 2021
Dustin Poirier is the best lightweight in the world, not UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, says his coach Mike Brown. Poirier takes on Oliveira at UFC 269 in December with the 155lbs belt on the line. Oliveira won the vacant title when he knocked out Michael Chandler back at UFC 262 in May. But despite being the UFC lightweight champion and holding the belt, there are still a number of people in the MMA community who think that he isn’t the best lightweight in the sport. After all, Poirier turned down the title shot to fight Conor McGregor in a trilogy match. So it’s the opinion of some, including Brown, that Poirier is actually the true No. 1 lightweight.