MMA News
Jake Paul might knock out Tyron Woodley, says Jeremy Stephens: "He's an athletic freak"
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
UFC lightweight Jeremy Stephens says that YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul might knock out Tyron Woodley in their upcoming boxing match. Paul meets Woodley on August 28 in a professional boxing match promoted by Showtime PPV. For Paul, it’s his fourth pro boxing match and he earned the opportunity to fight a big name in the world of combat sports in Woodley after defeating his longtime friend and training partner Ben Askren in his last outing. For Woodley, after losing four straight fights in the UFC he was released and chose to fight Paul and earn a big payday in the process. This summer’s blockbuster PPV is expected to make both men several million dollars.
Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC: "It was the best decision I’ve ever made"
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
Women’s combat sports superstar Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” VanZant competed in MMA from 2012 to 2020, and between 2014 and 2020 she fought exclusively for the UFC, where she went 4-5 overall. After becoming a free agent last summer, VanZant decided to take her talents to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although she lost a decision to Britain Hart in her BKFC debut, VanZant has already been booked for her next fight, a rematch with her former UFC opponent Rachael Ostovich.
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne announce gender of baby (Video)
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and her husband, former UFC heavyweight Travis Browne, revealed their baby’s gender. Rousey and Browne announced back in April that the UFC Hall of Famer is pregnant with her first child and expecting to give birth to the baby in September. Two months later, and Rousey and Browne are now ready to reveal the gender of their child to the world. Check out the video that Rousey and Browne posted on their YouTube featuring a gender reveal.
Justin Jaynes explains why he shot for late takedown against Charles Rosa at UFC Vegas 30
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
UFC featherweight fighter Justin Jaynes explained why he shot for a late takedown in his recent fight against Charles Rosa at UFC Vegas 30. Jaynes lost a split decision to Rosa at this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 30 card. While a preliminary card featherweight bout typically wouldn’t be getting so much attention, this particular fight did because Jaynes revealed that he bet $25,000 on himself to win the fight. Unfortunately for Jaynes, he came up just short on the judges’ scorecards.
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 "The Man In The Arena" hype video released
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
The UFC has released the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 hype video and it uses a quote from the famous “The Man in the Arena” speech. McGregor and Poirier meet for the third, and presumably the final time at UFC 264, which takes place on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. For McGregor and Poirier both, this is absolutely a must-win fight after both men split the first two fights between the pair. McGregor won the first meeting between the two rivals back at UFC 178 in September 2014 when he knocked Poirier out in the first round in a featherweight fight. Poirier then returned the favor at UFC 257 earlier this year at 155lbs when he stopped McGregor in the second round with punches after compromising his legs with calf kicks.
Jeremy Stephens on Drakkar Klose shove cancellation: 'I showed up hungry. I conquered. I won'
Drake Riggs - June 29, 2021
Jeremy Stephens was just a day away from stepping into the Octagon with Drakkar Klose in what would have been his last time out. As one of the longest-tenured athletes in the UFC, Stephens has practically seen it all — but having a fight canceled via shove was a new experience. Stephens ended up getting physical with his would-be opponent at weigh-ins ahead of UFC Vegas 24. As a result, the two never got to fight.
BKFC champion Hector Lombard calls out Jake Paul for bareknuckle fight
Andrew Whitelaw - June 29, 2021
Ever since he decided to try his hand at boxing, Jake Paul has had no shortage of suitors looking to teach him a lesson, the latest being Hector Lombard. The former Bellator middleweight champion took to instagram to make an intriguing offer and wrote,
Chael Sonnen reflects on TUF Brazil skirmish with Wanderlei Silva
Drake Riggs - June 29, 2021
Believe it or not, Chael Sonnen’s epic rivalry with Anderson Silva wasn’t his most volatile. However, due to the Silva saga, Sonnen made no alleys when it came to fighters from Brazil — Wanderlei Silva included. “The American Gangster” began singling out “The Ax-Murderer” on multiple occasions after heading from middleweight to light heavyweight in 2013. The most notable being his callout after defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Georges St-Pierre explains why he believes Conor McGregor will KO Dustin Poirier at UFC 264
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2021
Georges St-Pierre believes it will be Conor McGregor getting his hand raised at UFC 264. McGregor is set for his trilogy match against Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 264 on July 10. They had their rematch back in January where “The Diamond” scored a second-round TKO. In the lead-up to the trilogy, Poirier has said he will finish McGregor again, but St-Pierre believes it will be the Irishman winning early by KO.
Dustin Poirier on Conor McGregor trilogy: "You can have all the money in the world but you can't buy heart and I got that"
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2021
Dustin Poirier has a reason as to why he will finish Conor McGregor again at UFC 264. Poirier and McGregor had their highly-anticipated rematch on Fight Island in January at UFC 257. Early on in the fight, the Irishman had success but Poirier kept landing leg kicks which opened up the head, and “The Diamond” capitalized with a second-round TKO win.
UFC Vegas 30 rankings update: Julia Avila among winners on the move upwards following big win
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
The official UFC rankings have been updated following UFC Vegas 30, and women’s bantamweight contender Julia Avila is among those moving up. Avila submitted Julija Stoliarenko in a women’s 135lbs bout on the preliminary card. After two close rounds which actually had the judges split heading into the third and final round, Avila put a stamp on the victory by catching a rear-naked choke submission late in the final stanza. It was a tremendous performance by Avila, and she afterward took to social media to vent that she wasn’t one of the card’s $50,000 bonus winners. Regardless of whether or not she got a bonus, Avila looked good and is now the No. 14 ranked fighter at 135lbs.
Sean O'Malley needs new opponent after Louis Smolka withdraws from UFC 264
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
UFC bantamweight star Sean O’Malley is in need of a new opponent after Louis Smolka withdrew from their scheduled upcoming bout at UFC 264. O’Malley and Smolka were set to meet on the main card of UFC 264, which is scheduled to take place on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the fight is now off, according to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. He confirmed the news that Smolka has withdrawn from the fight following a cryptic tweet from O’Malley suggesting a change.
Conor McGregor "didn't give Dustin the respect he deserved" at UFC 257, but will KO him in round one at UFC 264, says Artem Lobov
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2021
Artem Lobov believes Conor McGregor overlooked Dustin Poirier back in January at UFC 257. Although Lobov says McGregor was focused on the fight, he says he was also preparing to box Manny Pacquiao which was a done deal. With that, Lobov says McGregor didn’t give Poirier the respect he deserved as he expected to be able to walk through him.
Charles Rosa believes Justin Jaynes only added more pressure on himself with his bet, eyes fall return
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2021
Charles Rosa was shocked when he saw that Justin Jaynes was betting his entire fight purse on himself. Rosa and Jaynes were set to fight on the prelims of UFC Vegas 30 and on paper, it was a competitive fight. Yet, the fight garnered major attention on fight week when Jaynes revealed he was betting his entire fight purse on himself. For Rosa, he says he doesn’t know why he did that as he believes it added more pressure on him than necessary.
Ali Abdelaziz says Kayla Harrison is "Ronda Rousey 6.0."
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz says that his client, PFL women’s lightweight star Kayla Harrison, is “Ronda Rousey 6.0.” Harrison is currently running through the field in the PFL season three women’s lightweight tournament and looks to be one of the best female fighters in the sport right now. A former Olympic gold medalist in judo, Harrison’s MMA career has always — fairly or unfairly — been compared to Rousey’s since she was also an Olympic gold medal judoka before turning over to mixed martial arts. Since making the transition to MMA in 2018, Harrison is a perfect 10-0 in MMA with eight wins by stoppage. She has been dominating everyone in her weight class, and she doesn’t appear to be on the verge of losing any time soon.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dana White and the UFC still want him to fight again
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says UFC president Dana White and co. still want him to fight in the Octagon again. Nurmagomedov first revealed his intentions to retire from MMA following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October. After taking several months to consider his future, Nurmagomedov vacated his title earlier this year and retired from the sport. However, even though “The Eagle” is no longer flying, it isn’t stopping White and the rest of the UFC’s top executives from trying to convince the Russian to fight one more time.
Ciryl Gane calls Jon Jones the GOAT, interested in future heavyweight fight with "Bones"
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane called Jon Jones the GOAT, and says he is interested in a future heavyweight fight with “Bones.” Gane defeated Alexander Volkov via unanimous decision last weekend to improve to 9-0 in MMA and 6-0 overall in the UFC. The win was so impressive to UFC president Dana White and the promotion’s top executives that Gane was given an interim title shot against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 this summer with Francis Ngannou out. The Gane vs. Lewis winner will likely be in line to face Ngannou sometime later this year for the undisputed title. Of course, there’s one other factor in the heavyweight equation, and that’s Jones.
Conor McGregor flaunts his physique 12 days away from UFC 264 (Photo)
Adam D Martin - June 29, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor flaunted his incredible physique 12 days away from his UFC 264 main event trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. McGregor and Poirier meet in the main event of UFC 264, which takes place on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the third and, presumably, the final meeting between these two bitter rivals. McGregor took home the first fight between these two back in 2014 when he knocked Poirier out at UFC 178. Seven years later and they met again earlier this year at UFC 257, this time with Poirier knocking McGregor out. With the all-time series between the two now 1-1, the trilogy fight next weekend will be massive.