MMA News
Police audio from Jon Jones' domestic battery arrest released
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2021
The police audio from Jon Jones’ arrest has been released. According to the audio, Jones’ longtime fiancee Jessie Moses refused to go back to the hotel room where the longtime UFC champ allegedly assaulted her. She did not want to go to the room to get her stuff, the audio revealed.
Thomas Almeida among the latest four UFC roster cuts
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
Longtime bantamweight fighter Thomas Almeida was among the latest four UFC roster cuts as the promotion continues to trim the roster. MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz confirmed the following four releases. Almeida; UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar; UFC light heavyweight Mike Rodriguez; and UFC middleweight Antonio Arroyo. According to Cruz, all were removed from the UFC roster.
UFC Vegas 38 weigh-in results: Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker on point, but three fighters miss weight
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
The official weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 38 took place on Friday in Las Vegas, and 23 of the 26 fighters scheduled to compete have made weight. In the main event of the evening, Thiago Santos fights Johnny Walker in a battle of top-10 ranked light heavyweight contenders. Santos has lost his last three fights in a row but everyone recognizes him as one of the best fighters in the world at 205lbs. As for Walker, he is coming off of a knockout win over Ryan Spann in his last fight. Both fighters successfully made weight for Saturday, with Santos at 206lbs and Walker at 204.5lbs.
Dan Hooker confirms UFC gave him extra money to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker confirmed that the UFC gave him extra money in order to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 267. Hooker will step into the Octagon on short notice later this month when he faces off against Makhachev at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. Hooker just fought last weekend at UFC 266 and he beat Nasrat Haqparast via decision, and he was expected to go home to New Zealand following the fight. But with the opportunity to face a top-five opponent in Makhachev out there, Hooker has made the decision to stay away from home and take the fight. It’s a decision that isn’t an easy one for Hooker, as he now has no idea when he will go back to New Zealand and see his family. But for the extra money that the UFC offered him to take the fight with Makhachev, Hooker believes that it was worth taking the fight.
Jalin Turner says submission win over Uros Medic was 'perfect execution,' says his UFC 266 foe was 'nervous'
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2021
Jalin Turner called a first-round stoppage over Uros Medic at UFC 266 and he did just that. In the lead-up to his fight on the stacked pay-per-view card, Turner made his return against the undefeated Medic and many thought Turner would get finished early. Yet, it was the other way around as Turner submitted Medic in the first and he said he’s still not surprised people continue to doubt him.
Miesha Tate vs. Ketlen Vieira rebooked for upcoming UFC main event
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
An important women’s bantamweight bout between top-10 ranked Miesha Tate and Ketlen Vieira has been rebooked as UFC main event. Tate vs. Vieira was originally intended to headline the UFC Fight Night card on October 16, but the fight fell apart after Tate contracted COVID-19. Because Tate was not healthy enough to compete on that date, the pairing fell apart, and a women’s featherweight bout between Holly Holm and Norma Dumont was elevated to the main event of the October 16 card. Fortunately for both Tate and Vieira, the UFC was able to rebook them in rather fast order, as the promotion announced this week the pairing will go down on November 20.
Vitor Belfort fires back at critics of Evander Holyfield boxing match
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort fired back at critics of the recent Evander Holyfield boxing match for Triller Fight Club. Belfort fought Holyfield last month in a controversial professional boxing match for Triller Fight Club. The controversy was two-fold. One, because Holyfield took the fight on short notice for Oscar De La Hoya, and two because Holyfield is 58 years old. Not shockingly, Holyfield was finished in the first round with strikes. There have been plenty of critics towards Belfort and Triller Fight Club since then, and now Belfort is firing back at them.
Islam Makhachev heavily favored to defeat Dan Hooker at UFC 267
Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021
Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is heavily favored to defeat divisional rival Dan Hooker at UFC 267 later this month. Makhachev was supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 267, but RDA was forced to pull out of the fight with an injury. In his place steps Hooker, who is fresh off of a decision win over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 last weekend. With the UFC in a tough situation in regards to finding a suitable opponent to fight Makhachev, Hooker stepped up on short notice. The two lightweights will now meet later this month at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.
OK's title win vs Christian Lee upheld by ONE Championship competition committee
Andrew Whitelaw - September 30, 2021
Ok Rae Yoon can rest easy – he’ll remain the newly-crowned ONE Championship lightweight title holder after his win over Christian Lee was upheld. The Korean scored a unanimous decision win against Christian Lee at ONE Championship: ‘Revolution’ last weekend, but the result was called into question. Immediately after the fight, Lee said the decision was ‘bulls**’ and asked for it to be reviewed.
Vicente Luque says he's earned title showdown with Kamaru Usman
Andrew Whitelaw - September 30, 2021
Vicente Luque believes he deserves a title shot against Kamaru Usman. Having signed with the UFC in 2015, the Brazilian has proven himself to be one of the most exciting fighters in the division. In 16 fights, Luque has earned Performance of the Night bonuses on four occasions and four Fight of the Night bonuses. The 29 year old finds himself in some of the best form of his career. Currently ranked a #4 in the welterweight division, he’s riding a four fight winning streak including back-to-back submission victories over Michael Chiesa and former champion, Tyron Woodley.
Sean O’Malley slated to return at UFC 269 against Raulian Paiva
Christopher Taylor - September 30, 2021
Sean O’Malley will return to the Octagon at UFC 269 for a bantamweight bout with fellow prospect Raulian Paiva. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto who shared the following information on Twitter.
Kevin Holland takes a swipe at Luke Rockhold, claims the former UFC champ is only returning because he's "broke as a f*ck"
Christopher Taylor - September 30, 2021
Kevin Holland claims that the reason former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is returning to the Octagon is because he’s flat broke. Holland (21-7 MMA) is set to return to action this weekend at UFC Vegas 38 when he squares off with the #14 ranked Kyle Daukaus.
Dan Hooker steps up on short notice, faces Islam Makhachev at UFC 267
Adam Martin - September 30, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has decided to step up on short notice, and he will face Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 next month. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to break the news that Hooker is fighting Makhachev at UFC 267. That’s according to UFC president Dana White, who confirmed the fight is set.
Wanderlei Silva calls out Vitor Belfort for rematch in boxing
Adam Martin - September 30, 2021
MMA legend Wanderlei Silva called out fellow Brazilian mixed martial artist Vitor Belfort for a rematch in the boxing ring. Silva and Belfort have never seen eye-to-eye. The pair first met way back at UFC Brazil in October 1998, with Belfort finishing Silva with a first-round knockout. The two then coached TUF Brazil in 2012 and were supposed to fight in a rematch, but the fight was canceled due to injuries. But even a decade later, these two do still not like each other and they continue to take shots at each other whenever they are able to get the chance to.
Deiveson Figueiredo reveals he will train with Henry Cejudo ahead of Brandon Moreno trilogy
Adam Martin - September 30, 2021
Deiveson Figueiredo revealed that he will train with Henry Cejudo ahead of his trilogy fight against UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. Figueiredo takes on Moreno for the third time at UFC 269 in December with the 125lbs title on the line. Following a majority draw at UFC 256 last December, Figueiredo lost his belt when Moreno submitted him at UFC 263 back in June. Following the rematch, it was expected that Moreno was going to fight someone else, but the UFC eventually decided on the trilogy with Figueiredo after Alexandre Pantoja was not cleared to fight Moreno.
Lauren Murphy explains why she nearly pulled out of UFC 266 title fight with Valentina Shevchenko
Adam Martin - September 30, 2021
Lauren Murphy explained why she nearly pulled out of her UFC 266 title fight with UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. Murphy fought Shevchenko in the co-main event of this past Saturday’s UFC 266 PPV card, and she ended up losing the fight via fourth-round TKO. It was not a good performance by Murphy, but she says one of the reasons for that is because she didn’t have her head coach, Alex Cisne, in her corner for the fight. Her coach tested positive for COVID-19 just days before the fight and Murphy was forced to fight Shevchenko without her coach.
Joe Solecki says Jared Gordon fight has the potential to be the 'Fight of the Night'
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2021
Joe Solecki didn’t think Jared Gordon would be his next opponent but he is eager for the challenge he presents. Solecki is 3-0 in the UFC and coming off a decision win over Jim Miller. After the win, many thought he would be near the rankings but for Solecki, he says he’s in no rush and will fight anyone the UFC offers him and that continues with Gordon at UFC Vegas 38.
Petr Yan blasts Aljamain Sterling, says he doesn't have 'the balls to enter the Octagon with me again'
Cole Shelton - September 30, 2021
Petr Yan wasn’t surprised when he heard Aljamain Sterling pulled out of their rematch at UFC 267. Yan and Sterling were supposed to have their highly-anticipated rematch in Abu Dhabi at UFC 267 in an intriguing matchup. They first fought back at UFC 259 in March where Sterling became the new champion due to Yan throwing an illegal knee and being DQ’d.