MMA News

Cole Shelton - May 26, 2021

Dana White says he respects Richard Schaefer and is eager to try and negotiate Jon Jones’ next fight. Recently, Jones and his management First Round parted ways as “Bones” was looking to handle his own negotiations. However, on Wednesday the former UFC light heavyweight champion announced he had hired Schaefer as his advisor.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones announced that he has hired boxing promoter Richard Schaefer as his new advisor. Earlier this week, Jones promised that he would share some big news with his fans, and he did so on Wednesday when he announced that he has hired Schaefer as his new advisor. Schaefer is a boxing promoter who was the former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which he left in 2014. In 2016, he started his own boxing promotion called Ringstar Sports. Check out the full statement that Jones shared on his social media announcing the Schaefer hire.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

UFC featherweight contender Shane Burgos described what getting knocked out by Edson Barboza in bizarre fashion at UFC 262 felt like. The UFC 262 “Fight of the Night” was an absolute war between Burgos and Barboza for as long as it lasted. The first two rounds were competitive, with Barboza having the slight edge heading into the third round, but Burgos was still live in the fight. However, a Barboza overhand right that connected with Burgos early in the third round sent “Hurricane” crumbling to the floor in a bizarre delayed-reaction knockout that was very concerning to watch. UFC president Dana White was worried something bad had happened to Burgos and the UFC sent him to the hospital right away, though Burgos later said that he felt fine.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

UFC welterweight contender Stephen Thompson explained why it would be a “bad idea” for Jake Paul to fight Tyron Woodley in a boxing match. Thompson has fought Woodley twice in the UFC, the first time fighting to a majority draw and then losing a majority decision in the rematch, so he knows “The Chosen One” better than anyone. Recently, Woodley completed his UFC contract and he is now a free agent. One of the fights that have been bandied about for him by fans and media is a boxing match against Paul. At this point, we aren’t sure if this fight will end up happening, but based on their previous run-in, it seems as though Woodley and Paul are interested in it.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

Stipe Miocic is hoping for the Francis Ngannou trilogy by early 2022, saying “I really would love to fight Francis again for the rematch.” Miocic lost the UFC heavyweight title in March at UFC 260 when he was brutally knocked out by Ngannou in the pair’s rematch. The fight was one-sided for Ngannou and so Miocic won’t get an immediate rematch despite the fact that he dominated Ngannou the first time they fought in 2018. Instead of Miocic being granted the rematch, the UFC has given the next title shot against Ngannou to Derrick Lewis, and the two will likely meet this summer.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

UFC legend Georges St-Pierre shared his thoughts on Logan and Jake Paul, saying that “I’m not one of the haters, they’re great athletes.” GSP, one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, recently sat down with MMA.joe and was asked about the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake. While so many people in the combat sports industry are down on the Paul brothers as they feel they haven’t put in the work yet, GSP isn’t a “hater.” Instead, GSP praised them for being great athletes, even though he’s still not convinced they can become elite MMA fighters or boxers.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern says the Marina Rodriguez fight isn’t done despite UFC president Dana White announcing it. White revealed last week that the UFC is targeting a matchup between Dern and Rodriguez, two of the top-10 women’s strawweights in the world. However, Dern says that the fight isn’t done just yet. Speaking to AG Fight, Dern said that the UFC has offered her the fight with Rodriguez as the main event for the July 31 UFC Fight Night card. However, Dern said that Rodriguez isn’t ready to fight on that date, and Dern hopes she gets someone else as her ambitious plan includes fighting someone in July and then fighting again in September.

Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021

PFL welterweight contender Rory MacDonald has disputed the notion that all of the world’s top mixed martial artists are in the UFC. MacDonald was one of the UFC’s top welterweights from 2010 to 2016, going 9-4 in the Octagon during that stretch, even fighting Robbie Lawler for the belt at UFC 189 in 2015. Since leaving the UFC, MacDonald traveled to Bellator, where he became that promotion’s welterweight champion, and now he’s in PFL, where he is one of the favorites to take down the $1 million grand prize in the organization’s 170lbs tournament. MacDonald might not be in his prime anymore but he’s still a quality welterweight even though he’s in PFL.

Harry Kettle - May 26, 2021

Former UFC fighter and commentator Dan Hardy has suggested his first post-UFC fight could take place inside a boxing ring. Hardy confirmed earlier this month that he’d been released from his UFC fighter contract in the wake of also being let go from his commentary duties. While Hardy has made it clear that he’d like to work with the promotion again, the 39-year-old isn’t going to waste any time in finding another place to compete.

Andrew Whitelaw - May 25, 2021

Michael Venom Page is keen to test his skills in the UFC. The 34 year old has spent the majority of his career competing at Bellator, but admitted that the prospect of fighting in the UFC is the reason he got into MMA. As reported by Adam Martin, Page spoke to Michael Bisping on his ‘Believe you me’ podcast, Page said,

Drake Riggs - May 25, 2021

Chael Sonnen and Jon Jones appear to still have their qualms despite settling things in the Octagon in 2013. On Tuesday Jones fired back at Sonnen after the former middleweight’s jab at recent comments made by Jones and “birthing” some news. As a result, it led to “The American Gangster” retorting in a manner that included some personal references as well as a contract offer.

Drake Riggs - May 25, 2021

Valerie Loureda hasn’t gone up or down in the official Bellator rankings after suffering her first career defeat at Bellator 259 against Hannah Guy. The 22-year old Taekwondo specialist went into last Friday night’s Bellator 259 event with a perfect 3-0 record. Loureda once again welcomed a newcomer to the promotional in fellow prospect Hannah Guy.

Cole Shelton - May 25, 2021

Jon Jones says he will be on the sidelines for at least another year. After Jones vacated his light heavyweight title last year, the plan was for him to move up to heavyweight and face the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2. However, ‘Bones’ wasn’t able to reach a deal with the UFC, and now suggests that he won’t be fighting again until 2022.

Cole Shelton - May 25, 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov appears to be sticking to his retirement. After Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 he announced his retirement from the sport. UFC president, Dana White tried to convince him to stay and fight one more time, but ‘The Eagle’ ended up sticking to his retirement and vacated the belt.

Cole Shelton - May 25, 2021

Jon Jones has blasted Chael Sonnen over his recent comments. After Jones tweeted he was about to give birth to something big, Sonnen clapped back with a funny response.

Adam D Martin - May 25, 2021

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping absolutely destroyed Diego Sanchez’s former manager Joshua Fabia in the latest edition of his podcast. It was revealed last week that Sanchez had severed ties with Fabia just a few weeks after “The Nightmare” was cut by the UFC. With Sanchez letting go of Fabia, his former manager and coach went on another podcast and directed numerous shots at Sanchez, accusing him of using him for the past two years and suggesting that Sanchez is addicted to drugs.

Adam D Martin - May 25, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland was praised by former UFC champion Daniel Cormier for heading to AKA to work on his wrestling. Following his loss to Marvin Vettori, where he was taken down at will, Holland said he planned to get in some wrestling training with Cormier at American Kickboxing Academy. Taking to his social media on Tuesday, Cormier posted a video of Holland at AKA working on his wrestling and he posted a message where he praised Holland for putting the work in.

Adam D Martin - May 25, 2021

New UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira says he is “happy” to be the betting underdog against Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. Oliveira won the UFC’s vacant 155lbs belt when he knocked out Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in Houston, Texas. It was an incredible win by Oliveira, who has now won his last nine straight fights in the Octagon. After spending most of the first decade of his UFC career as essentially a gatekeeper at 145lbs and 155lbs, something changed with Oliveira over the last few years as he has transformed into one of the best lightweight fighters in the UFC.