MMA News
Nominees released for World MMA Awards
Andrew Whitelaw - July 28, 2021
Fighters Only have announced the nominees for the 2021 World MMA Awards. This will be the 13th edition of the annual ceremony and the official voting website is live at worldmmaawards.com.
Jorge Masvidal weighs in on a possible Poirier vs. Covington fight: “Colby will call the cops cause history always repeats itself”
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2021
Jorge Masvidal has weighed in on a potential fight between Dustin Poirier and Colby Covington. For over a year now, Poirier and Covington have taken shots at one another and ‘The Diamond’ event said it was “on sight” when they saw each other next. However, nothing has happened as of yet and if Covington defeats Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 he says he wants his next fight to be against Poirier.
Zhang Weili praises Rose Namajunas after internal battles, 'She's the champ, just like a god'
Drake Riggs - July 28, 2021
Zhang Weili is making it clear that she has accepted her first loss since her debut — but not without first overcoming the pain that came with it. The UFC’s first Chinese champion is currently in the middle of having a mini-documentary release where she’s gone into great detail about some moments in her career — including her most recent fight.
Chris Weidman announces his broken leg has not healed properly, set for second surgery
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2021
Chris Weidman will be going back under the knife. At UFC 261 in April, Weidman was rematching Uriah Hall in an anticipated fight. Unfortnately, on the first kick he threw, he broke his leg in a gruesome fashion. Weidman was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery.
Cory Sandhagen predicts how a rematch with TJ Dillashaw would go: "He'll probably get finished"
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen predicted how a rematch with TJ Dillashaw would go, saying that “he’ll probably get finished.” Sandhagen lost a disputed split decision to his former teammate Dillashaw in the main event of last weekend’s UFC Vegas 32 card. The fight was very competitive and each round was decided on razor-thing margins, but the judges ultimately decided to go with Dillashaw for his control over Sandhagen’s striking advantage. While Sandhagen admitted it was a close fight, he has no doubt that if he gets the chance to fight Dillashaw again, it won’t be.
Colby Covington opens as big underdog to Kamaru Usman for rematch at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
No. 1 contender Colby Covington opened as a big underdog to UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for their upcoming rematch at UFC 268. Covington and Usman previously met at UFC 245 in December 2019, with Usman winning the fight by fifth-round TKO to defend the UFC welterweight title. Nearly two years later, and these two heated rivals will meet for the second time later this year when they clash in the main event of UFC 268, which is set to take place on November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It’s one of the most highly-anticipated fights of 2021.
Colby Covington says Kamaru Usman has been "using EPO his whole career"
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
Ahead of their upcoming rematch at UFC 268, Colby Covington says that welterweight champ Kamaru Usman has been “using EPO his whole career.” Covington and Usman will meet on November 6 in the main event of UFC 268 with the world welterweight title on the line. The two rivals previously met in the main event of UFC 245 in December 2019, with Usman winning via fifth-round TKO. The two will now meet again with Usman’s gold on the line in one of the most highly-anticipated fights of 2021.
Adrian Yanez says he's "not happy" with his TKO win performance against Randy Costa, hopes a top-15 opponent is next
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2021
Adrian Yanez wasn’t happy with his TKO win over Randy Costa at UFC Vegas 32. Yanez and Costa opened up the main card in a highly-anticipated bout between two of the brightest prospects at bantamweight. In the first round, it appeared Costa would be the one getting his hand raised as he was jabbing Yanez and landing heavy shots. For the Texan, he says the way Costa fought the first round threw him off.
Maycee Barber explains why she called out "legend" Jessica Eye after beating Miranda Maverick
Cole Shelton - July 28, 2021
Maycee Barber has never been shy to call out her next opponent and that is exactly what happened after her win at UFC Vegas 32 on Saturday. After Barber earned a controversial split decision over Miranda Maverick, “The Future” got onto the mic to call out Jessica Eye. It’s an opponent she has talked about before so Barber wasn’t surprised Eye responded to the callout, so she hopes that means the UFC will make the fight.
Khamzat Chimaev praised by Sean Strickland after "good f*cking wars" in sparring
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
UFC welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev was praised by middleweight fighter Sean Strickland after they had “good f*cking wars” in sparring. Chimaev hasn’t fought since last year when he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert in just 17 seconds due to a number of health issues. However, he is now ready to go and is set to make his return to the Octagon this fall, when he takes on top-15 ranked welterweight Li Jingliang in his comeback fight. Ahead of his return to the cage, Chimaev spent time at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas doing some training, and as part of his time there he got to spar with Strickland, who fights Uriah Hall this weekend in the headliner of UFC Vegas 33.
UFC Vegas 33 has new co-main event following rash of last-minute scratches
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 33 card has a new co-main event following a rash of last-minute scratches that led to three fights being canceled. The world’s leading MMA promotion’s next event takes place this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, with top-15 ranked middleweights Sean Strickland and Uriah Hall in the headliner. Both Strickland and Hall are currently riding four-fight win streaks and the winner of this fight seems poised to fight someone in the upper echelon of the division. Fortunately, Strickland vs. Hall has not been affected and the fight will go on as planned.
Fedor Emelianenko interested in boxing Roy Jones Jr.
Adam D Martin - July 28, 2021
Mixed martial arts legend and current Bellator heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko said that he is interested in boxing Roy Jones Jr. Emelianenko, generally regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters who ever lived, is now 44 years old and he is expected to make his return to the Bellator cage this fall when he fights in Moscow, Russia. However, while “The Last Emperor” is committed to fighting in MMA his next time out, he can’t help but admit there is the possibility of a boxing match.
Ronda Rousey blasts those criticizing Simone Biles for Olympic departure
Drake Riggs - July 27, 2021
Tatiana Suarez out of UFC 266 return, 'I still can’t believe this is my reality'
Drake Riggs - July 27, 2021
Tatiana Suarez can’t seem to catch a break. The Ultimate Fighter season 23 winner and strawweight wrestling phenom is once again going to have to sit on the sidelines. ESPN Deportes’ Carlos Contreras Legaspi reported on Tuesday that an injury has forced Tatiana Suarez out of her highly-anticipated comeback.
Tai Tuivasa vs Walt Harris reportedly set for UFC 267
Andrew Whitelaw - July 27, 2021
Hot on the heels of his epic knockout win against Greg Hardy at UFC 264, Tai Tuivasa looks to have his next fight booked against Walt Harris at UFC 267. According to MMAJunkie, the two heavyweights are set to go toe-to-toe on October 30th in Abu Dhabi in what will be an important match-up for the division.
Oscar De La Hoya expects him and Vitor Belfort will "f*****g beat the s**t out of each other"
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2021
Oscar De La Hoya is expecting his return fight against Vitor Belfort to be a violent one. De La Hoya and Belfort were supposed to have an exhibition match in September. Yet, recently it was revealed the fight was moved to a pro fight. It will take place on September 11 under the Triller banner and De La Hoya expects him and Belfort to beat each other up for however long it lasts.
Chuck Liddell interested in a bare-knuckle fight: "Come and talk to me"
Cole Shelton - July 27, 2021
Chuck Liddell is interested in fighting again and wants it to be in bare-knuckle. At BKFC 19 last weekend, Liddell was part of an alternative commentary with his podcast partners from the Drinkin’ Bros network. During the fights, they asked him if he’d be interested in fighting in BKFC and floated a purse of $100k. Although Liddell scoffed at the $100k, he did say he would be interested in fighting sans gloves.
UFC Vegas 32 rankings update: TJ Dillashaw re-enters bantamweight rankings at No. 2
Adam D Martin - July 27, 2021
The official UFC rankings have been updated following UFC Vegas 32, and former champ TJ Dillashaw re-entered the bantamweight ranks at No. 2. Dillashaw outpointed Cory Sandhagen to take home a split decision in the main event of this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 32 event. It was a close fight that could have gone either way, but the judges sided with the former UFC bantamweight champion, and it helped him out in the rankings. After not being ranked for the past two years, Dillashaw re-entered the UFC bantamweight rankings at No. 2, with everyone else below him falling one spot. Sandhagen, the man that Dillashaw beat, now stands at No. 3 in the 135lbs weight class. Kyler Phillips, who lost a decision to Raulian Paiva, dropped out of the top-15, as well.
Stephen Thompson criticizes UFC after giving Colby Covington title shot: "They're just throwing the same guys at Kamaru Usman"
Adam D Martin - July 27, 2021
Stephen Thompson criticized the UFC after giving Colby Covington a title shot, saying “they’re just throwing the same guys at Kamaru Usman.” The UFC announced this week that Usman vs. Covington 2 will take place at UFC 268, which is targeted to take place on November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Covington got the title shot over several other top contenders in the UFC welterweight division, including Leon Edwards, who is unbeaten over his last 10 fights. Despite Edwards having such a long winning streak, UFC president Dana White wanted Covington to get the title shot next despite “Chaos” losing to Usman just two fights ago.