MMA News
Israel Adesanya shoots down staph infection rumors, claims it's a 'little scrape'
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2020
Israel Adesanya says he is not dealing with a staph infection on his arm. On Sunday, a video of Adesanya doing a video interview circulated around and appeared to show a mark on the middleweight champion’s arm. Many on social media immediately said it was staph infection but “The Last Stylebender” says it is just a scrape.
Deiveson Figueiredo open to Joseph Benavidez rematch
Adam Martin - March 2, 2020
UFC flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo says he will give Joseph Benavidez a rematch after missing weight for their main event at UFC Norfolk. Figueiredo knocked Benavidez out in devastating fashion in the headliner of UFC Norfolk, but the win came with an asterisk after Figueiredo missed weight and became ineligible to win the title. The result was a worst-case scenario for the UFC, who didn’t expect to not have a new flyweight champion after setting up this match for the vacant flyweight belt.
Demetrious Johnson wouldn't be sad if UFC shut down flyweight division
Adam Martin - March 2, 2020
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson says he wouldn’t be sad if the UFC shut down the promotion’s 125lbs weight class. Johnson was the first-ever UFC flyweight champion and was the kingpin of the division from its beginning in 2012 until he lost his belt to Henry Cejudo in the summer of 2018. Just a few months after losing his belt to Cejudo, the UFC decided to trade Johnson to ONE Championship for Ben Askren, and Johnson has been a star for ONE ever since.
Chael Sonnen unsure if Justin Gaethje is tougher fight for Khabib than Tony Ferguson
Fernando Quiles - March 2, 2020
Chael Sonnen isn’t sure he shares in Dustin Poirier’s belief that Justin Gaethje can give Khabib Nurmagomedov his toughest test to date. Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani last month, Poirier expressed his belief that Gaethje could give Nurmagomedov problems. Poirier has shared the Octagon with both Gaethje and Nurmagomedov. “The Diamond” doesn’t believe Tony Ferguson will be the man to stop “The Eagle” when they collide on April 18.
Ion Cutelaba calls UFC Norfolk loss an 'injustice,' plans to appeal
Tom Taylor - March 2, 2020
Ion Cutelaba feels he was done an injustice in his UFC Norfolk main card fight with Magomed Ankalaev. Less than a minute into the first round of his fight with Ankalaev, Cutelaba seemed to be hurt by his foe’s striking. While he looked slightly wobbly, however, he was still standing, still defending, and still firing back. Despite these factors, the referee elected to stop the fight — and received immediate protest from Cutelaba.
Manager says Yoel Romero will grant Israel Adesanya rematch if he wins at UFC 248
Adam Martin - March 2, 2020
The manager for Yoel Romero says the top contender will grant UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya a rematch if he upsets him at UFC 248. Romero challenges Adesanya for the 185-pound strap this weekend at UFC 248 in Las Vegas. Romero is coming off of two straight losses but is still among the most feared middleweights on the UFC roster. Adesanya told UFC president Dana White he wanted the toughest opponent possible, and when Paulo Costa got injured Romero slid into that No. 1 contender role for the middleweight strap.
Michael Bisping finally admits he loves Yoel Romero too
Tom Taylor - March 2, 2020
For a brief period several years ago, it seemed as though Michael Bisping and Yoel Romero were on a collision course. At the time, Bisping held the UFC middleweight title, while Romero was the division’s top contender. During that phase, the pair exchanged quite a bit of trash talk. The most notable soundbite to emerge from their would-be rivalry, however, was a line from Romero that can’t really be called trash talk.
Henry Cejudo targets 'ugly detached Siamese twins' Figueiredo and Benavidez after UFC Norfolk
Tom Taylor - March 2, 2020
Henry Cejudo is no longer the UFC flyweight champ, but that doesn’t mean the UFC’s top flyweights are safe from his trash talk. On Saturday night, in the main event of UFC Norfolk, Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo collided in a bout that was supposed to crown the new UFC flyweight champ — unfortunately, Figueiredo missed weight for the fight, which made him ineligible to win the title. Figueiredo ended up winning the fight by second-round TKO, which means the flyweight throne is now vacant.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes she'll outwork Weili Zhang and make her 'quit' to reclaim belt
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2020
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is looking to reclaim her strawweight crown when she battles the current champion Weili Zhang in the co-main event of UFC 248 this Saturday. Jedrzejczyk held the title from March 2015 to November 2017 and then lost it to Rose Namajunas. Since then, she had another chance at the belt and fought for the vacant flyweight belt but came up short.
John McCarthy announces 2020 COMMAND Course in hopes of improving refereeing and judging in MMA
Natasha Hooper - March 2, 2020
Referee Big John McCarthy has re-launched his COMMAND Course in hopes of improving MMA refereeing and nurturing the next generation of talent. Though he is now retired from officiating, John McCarthy is widely regarded as one of the best referees in MMA. Industry experts including Joe Rogan have praised his aptitude as a ref and his dedication to the sport.
Dana White bashes Deontay Wilder for walk-out costume, promises we won't see 'any of that bulls**t in the UFC'
Tom Taylor - March 2, 2020
UFC President Dana White was not impressed by the elaborate costume Deontay Wilder wore during his walkout for his recent rematch with Tyson Fury. Fury and Wilder both made extravagant walks to the ring for their Las Vegas rematch. Fury wore a crown and cape and was carried to the ring on a palanquin. Wilder, meanwhile, essentially walked out in a suit of armor, and later blamed his loss to Fury on the weight of this costume.
Missing weight cost Deiveson Figueiredo a lot more than just the UFC flyweight title
Natasha Hooper - March 2, 2020
Deiveson Figueiredo lost a lot more than just the UFC flyweight title after missing weight for his victory over Joseph Benavidez at UFC Norfolk. In the main event of the UFC Norfolk, the Brazilian flyweight challenged the MMA veteran Joseph Benavidez. The athletes were fighting for the 125-pound title since it was relinquished by Henry Cejudo earlier this year. Despite having a previous victory over Cejudo in 2016, Benavidez failed to take home the flyweight gold against Figueiredo. In the second round, the Brazilian connected with a clean right hand that sent Benavidez crashing to the canvas.
John McCarthy blasts referee for “horrendous” Ion Cutelaba vs Magomed Ankalaev decision
Natasha Hooper - March 2, 2020
Referee royalty, Big John McCarthy is less than impressed with the referee’s controversial ruling in the Ion Cutelaba vs Magomed Ankalaev bout at UFC Norfolk. Last weekend, the light heavyweight fight already got off to a strange start when Cutelaba walked across the canvas to bump into his Russian opponent. Security entered to separate the two parties, and the bad blood spilt over into the fight.
Juan Adams reveals ARES is paying him more money than UFC contract did, doesn't expect to fight Reug Reug
Cole Shelton - March 1, 2020
When Juan Adams was released from the UFC following his loss to Justin Tafa at UFC 247, ARES Fighting Championship immediately showed interest. When Adams was looking to sign with a new promotion, he wanted to make fighting his full-time job. And, ARES has given him that opportunity as he revealed the African-European based promotion is paying him more money than the UFC did.
Manager claims Henry Cejudo returning to flyweight after UFC 250 to defend belt
Adam Martin - March 1, 2020
Manager Ali Abdelaziz claims that UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo will defend the flyweight title after taking on Jose Aldo at UFC 250. The vacant flyweight title was supposed to be won by either Joseph Benavidez or Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Norfolk. But Figueiredo missed weight at the official weigh-ins, and when he knocked Benavidez out in the main event, he didn’t become the new champion, once again putting the UFC flyweight division on life support.
Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Hernandez added to UFC 249
Adam Martin - March 1, 2020
An exciting lightweight bout between top-15 ranked Islam Makhachev and Alexander Hernandez is the latest addition to UFC 249. MMAjunkie.com reported that Makhachev vs. Hernandez has been verbally agreed to for UFC 249, which takes place on April 18 at Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main event sees UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov take on Tony Ferguson.
Joseph Benavidez releases statement following KO loss at UFC Norfolk
Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020
UFC flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez has released a statement following a devastating KO loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Norfolk. In his third bid to win the UFC flyweight crown, Benavidez was knocked out by Figueiredo in brutal fashion in the second round of their headlining bout. However, because Figueiredo missed weight he was not eligible to win the flyweight title, making a Benavidez loss unfortunate on so many levels. Benavidez is one of the best fighters in flyweight history, but his legacy will never be complete without a title.
Jorge Masvidal unloads on Kamaru Usman for threatening his manager
Adam D Martin - March 1, 2020
UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal unloaded on UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for threatening his manager Abe Kawa on social media. Usman and Masvidal are set to meet at International Fight Week in Las Vegas in July. The contract is not signed yet but is expected to be in the coming months.