MMA News
Michael Bisping: 'I'd take the belt off Israel Adesanya pretty easily' if I was still fighting
Mike Pendleton - March 6, 2020
In the main event of this weekend’s UFC 248, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will look to defend his title for the first time after he claimed the undisputed championship from former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 last October. As Adesanya prepares for his first title defense against Yoel Romero, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who is now retired, believes he’d be able to beat Adesanya if he was still fighting. During an interview with MMA Tonight on Sirius XM, Bisping was asked about the upcoming main event title fight. While he praised both Adesanya and challenger Yoel Romero, Bisping said if he was still actively fighting, he’d be able to take the belt off Adesanya “pretty easily”.
Two major combat sports events postponed due to coronavirus concerns
Tom Taylor - March 6, 2020
ONE Championship and ARES Fighting Championship have both elected to postpone upcoming events due to concerns about the rapidly-spreading novel coronavirus. Early on Friday morning, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced that the upcoming ONE: Heart of Heroes card, originally scheduled for March 20 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has been postponed until June 26.
UFC San Diego odds: Dustin Poirier opens as favorite over Dan Hooker
Harry Kettle - March 6, 2020
The current UFC San Diego betting odds favor former title contender Dustin Poirier to win the lightweight showdown against Dan Hooker. It was reported recently that the UFC is lining up a Poirier vs. Hooker main event showdown that is set to take place in San Diego, California on May 16. Both men are considered to be amongst the top contenders in the lightweight division, with both believing that they’re only a few wins away from a title shot.
Sean O’Malley reveals financial hardships suffered while attempting to clear his name
Natasha Hooper - March 6, 2020
Undefeated bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley recently opened up on his financial hardships caused by his recent tangle with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. At UFC 248 in Las Vegas, “Sugar” Sean will return to fight Jose Alberto Quinonez. It will mark the first time he has stepped foot in the Octagon to fight in almost two years.
UFC champion Amanda Nunes announces that she will have a daughter come September
Natasha Hooper - March 6, 2020
Two-division champion Amanda Nunes has announced she is expecting a baby girl with fellow MMA fighter Nina Ansaroff. The exciting news comes as a great start to 2020 for the couple, who have been talking about having children together since 2017. They came to a mutual decision that Ansaroff would carry their child. This follows their engagement in 2018 where “The Lioness” dropped down on one knee to propose to her partner.
VIDEO | Yoel Romero delivers a terrifying yet inspirational message ahead of UFC 248
Christopher Taylor - March 5, 2020
Yoel Romero is clearly amped up for his upcoming middleweight title fight with Israel Adesanya at UFC 248. Aside from looking in remarkable condition, ‘The Soldier of God’ is also mentally primed to hand ‘Stylebender’ his first career loss at this Saturday’s event in Las Vegas.
From Mezzocorona, to London, to Huntington Beach, back to London: the story of Marvin Vettori
Alfredo Zullino - March 5, 2020
Marvin Vettori, “The Italian Dream”, the quintessence of the self-confidence, the only hope for Italian MMA in his own words. You can tell the Italian is a real one just from looking at the beginning of his professional mixed martial arts career. Fighters usually start their path competing in their own backyards, cutting their teeth in a comfort zone, but that was not the case for Marvin Vettori.
Dillon Danis claims Conor McGregor is the UFC’s ‘lineal featherweight champion’
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2020
Dillon Danis believes Conor McGregor is the UFC’s lineal featherweight champion. McGregor won the interim featherweight belt against Chad Mendes back at UFC 189. Mendes stepped in on short notice and had success early using his wrestling. But, the Irishman rallied back to score a second-round TKO win.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Alexander Volkov to headline UFC Saskatoon in June
Cole Shelton - March 5, 2020
The UFC’s has it’s main event for their first trip to Canada of 2020, as Curtis Blaydes will battle Alexander Volkov in a heavyweight matchup. The UFC will return to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on June 20 and according to Russian outlet Sports.ru Blaydes and Volkov will serve as the main event. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed the bout was set.
Joanna Jędrzejczyk responds after Dana White suggests she's been at the beach while Weili Zhang has been training
Christopher Taylor - March 5, 2020
Dana White made headlines yesterday when he suggested that Joanna Jędrzejczyk has been at the beach while her opponent Weili Zhang has been non-stop training. Jędrzejczyk and Zhang are slated to collide in the co-main event of UFC 248 Saturday night in Las Vegas, with the winner taking home the promotions coveted strawweight world title.
VIDEO | Israel Adesanya explains how dancing helped him become a fighter
Natasha Hooper - March 5, 2020
Israel Adesanya has found the sweet spot between his two passions: fighting and dancing. During a recent interview with ESPN, the middleweight star explains how the latter impacted his meteoric rise to becoming a UFC Champion. On March 7th 2020 at UFC 248, the New-Zealander will face the “boogeyman” of the middleweight division, Yoel Romero in the main event. This is the first time he will defend the 185-belt since knocking out the former champion, Robert Whittaker in 2019. Adesanya believes defeating Romero is essential in solidifying his legacy. However, “The Last Styebender” has endured a long, winding path before stepping onto the UFC road of success.
VIDEO | Joanna Jedrzejczyk shares bold words for Weili Zhang during heated staredown
Natasha Hooper - March 5, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk will have the opportunity to reclaim women’s strawweight gold on Saturday when she meets Weili Zhang in the co-main event of UFC 248. The former UFC strawweight title holder, Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA), is coming off a win over Michelle Waterson in her most recent Octagon appearance at October’s event in Tampa Bay.
Israel Adesanya wants to get to Paulo Costa 'before USADA does'
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes top contender Paulo Costa will inevitably get busted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and wants to get to the Brazilian before that happens. Costa, who is a perfect 13-0 as a pro, cemented himself as the middleweight division’s top contender last August when he defeated Yoel Romero with a close decision win. Unfortunately, he then sustained a bicep injury which kept him on the sidelines, while Romero was granted the next shot at Adesanya.
Tom Brady shares prediction for Weili Zhang vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Adam Martin - March 5, 2020
NFL legend Tom Brady shared his prediction for the UFC 248 co-main event between UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Brady, the longtime quarterback of the New England Patriots and a six-time Super Bowl winner, is good friends with UFC president Dana White, who has season tickets for the Pats. Brady is in the final year of his contract with the Patriots and can become a free agent in two weeks’ time, and White has been trying to help lure him to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Daniel Cormier not planning move back to 205lbs, hopes Stipe Miocic fight is next
Adam Martin - March 5, 2020
Former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier says he has no plans on moving back down to 205lbs and hopes to still have a trilogy fight with Stipe Miocic. Cormier hasn’t fought since last August when he suffered a stunning fourth-round TKO loss to Miocic in the pair’s rematch to lose the UFC heavyweight championship. Cormier won the first three rounds of the fight before Miocic made an adjustment and started going to the body of DC, leading to the knockout.
Darren Till makes prediction for Adesanya vs. Romero
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2020
As one of the top contenders in the UFC middleweight division, Darren Till will be watching this weekend’s middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero very closely. Speaking to MMA reporter Jim Edwards, Till shared his prediction for this middleweight title fight. He suspects the champion Adesanya will retain his title, but seems leery of offending Romero, who he considers a “monster.”
VIDEO | Yoel Romero sends training partner flying at UFC 248 open workouts
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2020
Yoel Romero is a freak of nature. On the off-chance you forgot just how athletic and talented the former Olympian is — even at 42 years old — the video below should serve as an adequate reminder.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk divulges gameplan for Weili Zhang fight
Adam Martin - March 5, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has divulged her gameplan for this weekend’s co-main event title fight at UFC 248 against UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang. Jedrzejczyk will be looking to reclaim the gold that once belonged to her when the two rivals take on each other this Saturday night at UFC 248 in Las Vegas. There has been no shortage of bad blood between these two, especially after Jedrzejczyk posted a meme of the coronavirus, which infuriated Zhang.