MMA News

Adam D Martin - May 27, 2021

RIZIN FF women’s star Gaby Garcia called out PFL standout Kayla Harrison for an upcoming match, saying that she wants to fight her. Garcia, who is a heavyweight, spoke to AG Fight and said that she wants to fight Harrison. According to Gacia, Harrison has been talking smack about her on the internet and Garcia is now answering the bell, but she says that Harrison is trying to duck her now instead.

Adam D Martin - May 27, 2021

UFC president Dana White said that former Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez can “pick up the phone and call” him after being released. White recently released Sanchez from the UFC after he got into a disagreement with the promotion about the release of medical records. In addition, Sanchez’s former manager Joshua Fabia also played a role in the release as he got into an argument with UFC employees on Fight Island that didn’t necessarily help Sanchez’s cause with the UFC.

Adam D Martin - May 27, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler welcomes a fan-friendly fight with Justin Gaethje, promising a highlight-reel finish either way. Chandler recently lost in his bid to become the new UFC lightweight champion when he was finished by Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 262. Though Chandler was stopped in the second round of the fight, it was an incredible match for as long as it lasted, and Chandler had a ton of success in the first round, nearly finishing Oliveira. So despite the fact he was stopped in the fight, his stock overall didn’t drop that much in the division.

Cole Shelton - May 27, 2021

Jared Vanderaa was excited when he found out he was fighting Justin Tafa and the scrap lived up to his expectations. Although Vanderaa knew he had the grappling advantage, he wanted to get into a striking fight with Tafa to show off his striking. However, in the fight, Vanderaa suffered a cut in his hairline, but when he saw all the blood rushing down him, he was worried the cut would stop the fight.

Adam D Martin - May 27, 2021

UFC welterweight Colby Covington trashed Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega as TUF coaches: “There’s just no entertainment factor there.” TUF returns to television screens next week with Volkanovski and Ortega as the coaches. Before those two featherweights were picked to coach the show, there were rumors for months that the UFC was considering booking Covington on the show against his rival Jorge Masvidal or against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, but neither of those two bookings ever materialized, and the UFC decided to go with the featherweights instead.

Adam D Martin - May 27, 2021

New UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira admits that he thought about quitting MMA, but he’s glad that he chose to stay the course. It took Oliveira 11 years to reach the top of the mountain in the UFC, and along the way, he admits that he thought about stepping away from the sport. Though he’s clearly one of the most talented fighters in the game, it wasn’t always like that. In fact, at many points in time, he questioned his ability to make it as a fighter in one of the world’s toughest sports.

Harry Kettle - May 27, 2021

The UFC is set to return to action next Saturday night with UFC Vegas 28, headlined by a blockbuster heavyweight showdown between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Augusto Sakai. Event: UFC Vegas 28: Rozenstruik vs Sakai Date: Saturday, 5th June 2021 Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: ESPN+ – 5pm/7pm EST

Christopher Taylor - May 26, 2021

Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes has opened up on the horrific train accident that left him clinging to life in a medically induced coma. On June 16, 2017, Hughes sustained severe head injuries after a train collided with his truck at a rail crossing close to his residence.

Drake Riggs - May 26, 2021

Out of all the opponents Cris “Cyborg” Justino has fought in her career, Miesha Tate never wound up being one of them. The former UFC bantamweight champion in Tate is currently set to make her return to MMA action after a five-year retirement. However, it seemed as if she and Cyborg had a real possibility of testing themselves against one another.

Cole Shelton - May 26, 2021

A pivotal featherweight fight between Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez has been agreed to for July. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto via Dana White, Holloway and Rodriguez will headline the July 17 card. The event will likely take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cole Shelton - May 26, 2021

Francis Ngannou will be in enemy territory when he defends his heavyweight title for the first time. After Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 the plan was for him to face Jon Jones. However, “Bones” and the UFC couldn’t come to an agreement. Following that, Dana White revealed Derrick Lewis would be getting the next shot. Now, White has revealed to Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports the rematch will likely take place in August and in Houston, Texas where Lewis is from.

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

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

Following UFC Vegas 27, the UFC’s rankings have been updated, with Jack Hermansson and Carla Esparza among the fighters moving up the ranks. Hermansson opened up the main card with a unanimous decision win over Edmen Shahbazyan. The UFC rankings panelists were impressed by what Hermansson did in the fight and he has moved up the promotion’s official rankings as a result, as “The Joker” is now ranked at No. 6 at middleweight, with Darren Till dropping down to the No. 7 spot.

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 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.