MMA News
Fedor Emelianenko to return to the Bellator cage in October
Adam D Martin - June 24, 2021
One of the greatest MMA fighters of all time will fight once again this fall when Fedor Emelianenko makes his return to the Bellator cage. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reports that Emelianenko will officially announce his return to the Bellator cage on Friday against an opponent that is still to be determined. The fight will take place in October at a location and venue that has yet to be revealed. It will be the first fight for the Russian legend since he defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 237.
Demian Maia wants one more UFC fight, told Dana White he wants Donald Cerrone or Nate Diaz
Adam D Martin - June 24, 2021
Welterweight veteran Demian Maia wants one more UFC fight, and he told UFC president Dana White that he wants Donald Cerrone or Nate Diaz. Maia lost a unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad at UFC 263 and, following the event, White hinted that it could be the last time we saw the Brazilian inside the Octagon. However, the 43-year-old Maia has made it clear since the fight with Muhammad that he is still interested in fighting one more time, and he’s hoping the UFC gives him the chance.
UFC Vegas 30: Gane vs. Volkov full betting odds
Cole Shelton - June 24, 2021
Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC Vegas 30 card featuring a battle of top-five heavyweights as Ciryl Gane takes on Alexander Volkov. The UFC Vegas 30 main event sees Ciryl Gane looking to remain undefeated as he battles perennial contender, Alexander Volkov. Gane is coming off a lackluster decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik last time out in his first main event. Prior to that, he scored a TKO win over Junior dos Santos. Volkov, meanwhile, is riding a two-fight winning streak after scoring TKO wins over Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris.
UFC fighter Luis Pena accused of punching his girlfriend and breaking her iPhone 11
Adam D Martin - June 24, 2021
UFC lightweight fighter Luis Pena has been accused of punching his girlfriend and breaking her iPhone 11 during a domestic violence incident. According to MMAFighting.com, Pena is accused of the domestic violence incident that allegedly took place on June 14. Police documents revealed that Pena’s girlfriend of one year called the police and said that “Violent Bob Ross” had gotten angry after accusing her of looking at other men’s photos on Instagram and decided to destroy her iPhone 11. According to the woman, whose name has not been made public, Pena also left her face with marks and bruises. She reportedly also had a lump on the top of her head as well.
Chris Weidman admits that leg amputation still a possibility
Adam D Martin - June 24, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman admitted that having a leg amputation is still a possibility as he recovers from his injury. Weidman broke his leg in a devastating fashion when he threw a low kick that Uriah Hall checked in their middleweight bout at UFC 261, an injury that left “The All-American” writhing in pain on the Octagon canvas. It was one of the worst injuries we have ever seen in the UFC, but Weidman has been making an incredibly fast recovery since then as he’s already gotten back into the gym to do some sparring and even went golfing.
Ovince Saint Preux will not be staying at heavyweight after training with UFC champ Francis Ngannou: “I know how to stay in my lane”
Adam D Martin - June 24, 2021
Ovince Saint Preux will not be staying at heavyweight after training with UFC champ Francis Ngannou, saying “I know how to stay in my lane.” Saint Preux returns to the Octagon on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 30 when he takes on Tanner Boser in a short-notice heavyweight bout. Saint Preux was originally set to take on Maxim Grishin on this card at light heavyweight, but after Grishin pulled out of the fight with an injury, the UFC asked him to move up to heavyweight to take on Boser and stay on the card. Although Saint Preux only has one heavyweight bout in the UFC to his name, a split decision defeat to Ben Rothwell last year, he had no problem saying yes to the opportunity to move up and fight Boser in order to keep a fight booked.
Khabib Nurmagomedov teams up with Jacob & Co for new ‘Khabib watch collection’
Harry Kettle - June 24, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov has expanded his business horizons even further by teaming up with Jacob & Co for a new watch collection. Some close up images of one of the watches, alongside a picture of Khabib, has been showcased on his Instagram account with a green interior and a celebration of the Russian’s 29-0 unbeaten record in mixed martial arts.
Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises promoted to UFC Vegas 31 main event after Holloway-Rodriguez scratched
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Islam Makhachev will get the chance to headline his first UFC card. According to John Morgan of MMAJunkie, Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises has been promoted to the main event of UFC Vegas 31 on July 17. The original main event saw Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez, yet Holloway was forced out of the fight due to an injury. Damon Martin of MMAFighting later reported that Giga Chikadze was offered and agreed to headline the card against Rodriguez but the fight was not made leaving Makhachev vs. Moises to be the main event.
Julio Cesar Chavez says his son didn't prepare for Anderson Silva, calls for him to retire
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Julio Cesar Chavez doesn’t believe his son, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. prepared properly to fight Anderson Silva and now wants him to retire. On Saturday night, Chavez Sr. had an exhibition bout in his return to the ring while his two sons were also on the card. Unfortunately, Chavez Jr. lost a split decision to Anderson Silva while Omar Chavez lost a decision to Ramon Alvarez. It was a disappointing result for the family, and the legendary boxer believes it’s due to the fact his sons don’t prepare properly.
Gilbert Burns sends violent warning to Leon Edwards: "When my hands touch you, you going to wake up at ICU"
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Gilbert Burns has taken a shot at Leon Edwards over his recent performance against Nate Diaz. Although Edwards dominated 24 minutes of the fight at UFC 263, what many will remember is the final minute where Diaz rocked the Brit. He had Edwards on wobbly legs but Diaz didn’t capitalize and lost a clear-cut decision.
Luke Rockhold claims Khamzat Chimaev declined to fight him in a main event: "I thought he would fight anyone"
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Luke Rockhold was offered a UFC main event in August against Khamzat Chimaev but he claims the undefeated fighter turned it down. Rockhold has talked about a return to the Octagon for quite some time and wanted a top-ranked middleweight. Yet, the former UFC middleweight champion revealed he was offered to headline the August 28 Fight Night card but Chimaev turned it down. He was also offered a three-round fight against Chimaev at UFC 265 on August 7, but that too was declined by the Swede, Rockhold revealed to Ariel Helwani.
Tim Johnson passed up waiting for Ryan Bader for interim title fight, expects a decision win over Valentin Moldavsky
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Tim Johnson could’ve waited for a title shot against Ryan Bader. After Johnson earned a split decision win over Cheick Kongo last October he cemented himself as the number one contender at heavyweight. The plan was for the UFC veteran to face Ryan Bader in the first quarter of 2021 for the heavyweight title. Yet, Bader went into the light heavyweight grand prix and instead of waiting, Johnson will face Valentin Moldavsky in the main event of Bellator 261 for the interim heavyweight title.
Khaos Williams eyes fall return but won't give "anyone extra clout" by calling them out: "I'll let my hands do the talking"
Cole Shelton - June 23, 2021
Khaos Williams was happy he got back into the win column on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 29. Williams broke onto the UFC scene with two sub-30 second KOs over Alex Morono and Abdul Razak Alhassan. In his third fight, he suffered a close decision loss to Michel Pereira, but on Saturday he earned a hard-fought decision win over Matt Semelsberger which Williams was happy about.
Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis 2 reportedly delayed until at least September
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
The rematch between UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and rival Derrick Lewis has reportedly delayed until at least September. The UFC has been planning on having Ngannou and Lewis headline UFC 265, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on August 7 in Houston, Texas. However, it appears as though the promotion has run into a scheduling conflict and the fight between Ngannou and Lewis has now been delayed. According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Ngannou vs. Lewis is a “long shot” to take place at UFC 265, and instead, September seems more likely.
Leon Edwards fires back at Gilbert Burns for suggesting he “wasn’t hungry” in fight with Nate Diaz: “You got knocked out with a jab”
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
Leon Edwards fired back at Gilbert Burns for suggesting he “wasn’t hungry” in the Nate Diaz fight, saying “you got knocked out with a jab.” Edwards won a unanimous decision over Diaz at UFC 263 earlier this month, but he wasn’t able to get the finish and nearly got stopped himself during a crazy fifth round of action. Although Edwards got his hand raised, UFC president Dana White stopped short of committing to giving him the next title shot despite being on a 10-fight unbeaten streak at the moment. White instead said that Colby Covington is next in line to fight UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. But one has to wonder if Edwards was able to go out there and finish Diaz if he would have been granted the title shot instead of Covington.
Colby Covington slams welterweight “joke” Stephen Thompson: “He should probably just retire”
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
UFC welterweight Colby Covington slammed divisional rival Stephen Thompson, calling him a “joke” and saying “he should probably just retire.” Covington is set to face UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a rematch later this year for the 170lbs gold, but Thompson is hopeful that he will jump past Covington in the title queue with a win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 264 next month. As the highest-ranked fighter who hasn’t fought Usman yet, Thompson believes that a big win over Burns could help him jump past Covington and Leon Edwards when it comes to the title shot order.
Randy Couture surprised Jake Paul leading charge on fighter pay reform in MMA, thinks Conor McGregor should have done more
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
Randy Couture says he is surprised Jake Paul is leading the charge on fighter pay reform in MMA, and he thinks Conor McGregor should have done more. Paul has been banging on the drum to get UFC fighters (and MMA fighters in general) paid more money, especially as he continues to roll in huge paydays in boxing. During a recent press conference, Paul went on an expletive-filled rant and said that UFC president Dana White should be paying his fighters more money, and saying “f*ck Dana White.”
Demian Maia praises Matt Brown following recent rematch callout: "The respect is mutual"
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
UFC welterweight veteran Demian Maia praised Matt Brown following his recent callout for a rematch, suggesting that “the respect is mutual.” The 43-year-old Maia recently lost a unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad at UFC 263 and following the fight, UFC president Dana White hinted that could be the last time we see the legendary Brazilian inside the Octagon as Maia is one of the oldest fighters in the UFC and is on a two-fight losing skid. However, Maia has said that he wants to fight one more time before he hangs up his gloves for good, and he called out Nate Diaz for his final fight.