MMA News

Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021

Stephen Thompson believes Conor McGregor has what it takes to beat Dustin Poirier. In the main event of UFC 264, McGregor and Poirier will have their highly-anticipated trilogy bout. It’s an intriguing matchup, but many believe McGregor won’t have the ability to change everything he needs to do to beat Poirier. Yet, for Thompson, he thinks the Irishman has what it takes to win this fight as long as he goes back to his karate style and uses his movement.

Drake Riggs - June 22, 2021

Anthony Smith and Jon Jones have had a more heated rivalry after their UFC 235 clash than they did before it. Smith rebounded from his unanimous decision title loss to Jones with a fourth-round submission of Alexander Gustafsson. Afterward, Smith came up short in a wild affair with Glover Teixeira. This ultimately led to some shots being taken by Jones as Smith was a victim of a home invasion incident and didn’t take too kindly to the then champion’s comments.

Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021

Kamaru Usman has responded to Nate Diaz after his recent criticism. Diaz took to social media on Tuesday to blast the welterweight champ for only fighting opponents he already beat and knocked out. Usman was criticized for the rematch due to the fact he dominated Masvidal less than a year prior.

Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021

Nate Diaz isn’t a fan of Kamaru Usman and the opponents he is facing. At UFC 261, Usman rematched Jorge Masvidal not even a year after dominating him on Fight Island to defend his belt. Yet, “Gamebred” took the fight on just six days’ notice and had to fly around the world. Usman wanted the chance to prove how much better he was and did so in dramatic fashion as he KO’d Masvidal out cold, yet for Diaz, he isn’t impressed.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov reaffirmed his decision to retire, saying that “I have no desire to come back and I don’t think I ever will.” Nurmagomedov first revealed his intentions to step away from mixed martial arts following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October. That victory improved Nurmagomedov’s MMA record to a perfect 29-0, and UFC president Dana White was hoping the legend would come back for one final fight and try to make it an even 30-0. However, “The Eagle” decided that it was the right time to walk away and he vacated the UFC lightweight title and officially stepped away from the sport earlier this year.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland trashed keyboard warriors following his much-publicized incident in training with Orlando Sanchez. Strickland, one of the top-15 ranked middleweights in the UFC, is currently training for his fight this summer against Uriah Hall. As part of his camp, he was working pummel drills with Sanchez, a BJJ world champion who attempted a standing armlock on Strickland. “Tarzan” was not happy about it and the video of him arguing with Sanchez went viral.

Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021

Artem Lobov is eager to face Denys Berinchyk on July 24. In the main event of Mahatch FC, Lobov will face the current undefeated WBO international lightweight champ boxer in Berinchyk. He’s also an Olympic silver medalist, winning the medal in 2012. His résumé speaks for itself which is why Lobov is excited about the fight.

Cole Shelton - June 22, 2021

Matt Brown doesn’t know if he’ll make the walk to the Octagon again. At UFC Vegas 29, Brown returned to the win column in a big way as he scored a violent second-round KO over Dhiego Lima. The first round was a back-and-forth one, but after the round ended, Brown saw some tendencies that allowed him to land the big power punch.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns says that Leon Edwards “wasn’t hungry” enough against Nate Diaz to earn a title shot at 170lbs. Edwards won a unanimous decision over Diaz at UFC 263 earlier this month, but he was rocked badly in the fifth round of the fight and was nearly finished. Still, he got the win and now Edwards is on a 10-fight unbeaten streak. With that kind of a winning streak, there’s no surprise that Edwards is out there stumping for a title shot. But UFC president Dana White has already said that Colby Covington is next in line to fight UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who defeated Burns earlier this year at UFC 258 by knockout.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman says he is confident he will fight again after breaking his leg against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. Weidman snapped his leg on a kick that Hall checked in the opening moments of their fight at UFC 261. It was one of the most brutal injuries we have ever seen inside the Octagon, and at the moment it happened, many fans were wondering if Weidman would ever fight again. Incredibly, Weidman is already walking around less than two months after the incident took place. In fact, he’s already back in the gym doing some pad work and light sparring, and he even golfed a full 18 holes. “The All-American” might have broken his leg, but he’s not letting that injury stop him from continuing to be a tremendous athlete.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

Khamzat Chimaev needs to get tested against the top dogs, says Ian Heinisch, suggesting that “he’s definitely got some lessons to learn.” Heinisch has been in-and-out of the UFC middleweight top-15 over the last few years, a place which Chimaev occupied briefly following his quick KO win over Gerald Meerschaert last year. Heinisch, of course, also has a big KO win over Meerschaert, but unlike Chimaev, Heinisch never got the sort of hype that Chimaev got after he knocked Meerschaert out. And while Heinisch says he can’t hate on the “stud” Chimaev for getting the hype, he still believes that the young Swede has a lot to learn inside the Octagon.

Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021

Belal Muhammad ripped rival Leon Edwards for the Nate Diaz fight, saying that “you probably lost more fans than you gained in that one.” Muhammad is coming off of a unanimous decision win over Demian Maia at UFC 263, and Edwards defeated Diaz via decision on the same card. However, while Edwards got his hand raised in the fight, most people remember the fifth round where Diaz rocked Edwards badly. The Brit was able to hold on and survive, but it didn’t seem like the type of elite performance that will earn him a title shot, and that’s why Muhammad wants the rematch.

Harry Kettle - June 22, 2021

UFC strawweight Kanako Murata has shared an x-ray image of the horrific arm injury she suffered at UFC Vegas 29 last weekend. Murata, who is now 12-2 in her professional mixed martial arts career, was beaten by Virna Jandiroba via arm injury on a gruesome night at the office for the Japanese star. It brought a humbling end to an eight-fight win streak and, in the process, left her arm in tatters.

Cole Shelton - June 21, 2021

Jake Paul is hoping his upcoming boxing match against Tyron Woodley will last longer than his other pro bouts. Paul, who’s currently 3-0 as a pro and has two first-round TKO’s and one second-round KO, will have his toughest test on August 28 against Woodley. It’s an intriguing matchup and both men have promised fairly early KOs as the brash YouTuber doesn’t think Woodley will be able to handle his power. Yet, if he does, he says he’s excited for that as he knows he has what it takes to box eight hard rounds.

Drake Riggs - June 21, 2021

Belal Muhammad is not at all a fan of former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. UFC President Dana White has let it be known that “Chaos” is next in line to rematch current champion, Kamaru Usman. After seeing Covington lose via fifth-round TKO in their December 2019 clash, Muhammad believes he should be next for Covington instead.

Drake Riggs - June 21, 2021

Rising UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland got into a bit of an altercation with BJJ world champion Orlando Sanchez this past week. Strickland and Sanchez were caught on video at RVCA in California practicing some grappling. Ultimately, it ended in less than a friendly manner as Strickland threw a spinning back fist and teep kick to Sanchez after Sanchez attempted an alleged “dirty” arm crank.

Cole Shelton - June 21, 2021

The UFC 263 salaries have been revealed with Israel Adesanya making the most amount of money. UFC 263 took place in Glendale, Arizona on June 12 and the Arizona Department of Gaming was able to reveal the payouts for the fighters to MMAJunkie. To no surprise, Adesanya, who defeated Marvin Vettori in the main event to defend his middleweight belt made the most money as he cashed $500,000. Vettori, meanwhile, made $350,000 which was the second-highest on the card.

Adam D Martin - June 21, 2021

Robert Whittaker dubbed UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s UFC 263 performance as average, and “The Last Stylebender” responded. Adesanya defeated rival Marvin Vettori in the pair’s rematch as last weekend’s UFC 263 pay-per-view event in Glendale, Arizona. Adesanya was able to utilize his superior striking and showed improvements in his grappling as he was able to win a unanimous decision over the Italian. Vettori, of course, only got the title shot against Adesanya after Whittaker was forced to decline it due to the fight’s close proximity to his matchup against Kelvin Gastelum in April. With Whittaker unable to take the fight at that time, Vettori stepped up and got the title shot instead, only Adesanya was able to go in there and win handily.