MMA News
Fabricio Werdum opens as sizeable favorite in return to Octagon against Alexey Oleynik
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2020
Fabricio Werdum has opened as a sizeable favorite over Alexey Oleynik in his return to the Octagon. It has been made official that Werdum will battle Oleynik at UFC 250 which takes place on May 9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The fight was one that the Russian had called for, given both are jiu-jitsu specialists.
Tito Ortiz's win over Alberto Del Rio reinstated by Texas commission after drug-test controversy
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2020
Tito Ortiz has officially defeated Alberto Del Rio. Back at Combate Americas 51 on Dec. 7, Ortiz was making his promotional debut against Alberto Del Rio. In the lead-up to the fight, the two traded shots at one another and even had a bet where Ortiz put his UFC belt on the line while Del Rio put the WWE heavyweight strap on the line. In the end, it was Ortiz who got his hand raised by first-round submission win.
Joseph Benavidez says lack of mental discipline caused Deiveson Figueiredo to miss weight
Adam Martin - February 28, 2020
The MMA community was left disappointed on Friday morning when Deiveson Figueiredo missed weight for his vacant flyweight title against Joseph Benavidez. Benavidez meets Figueiredo on Saturday night in the main event of UFC Norfolk, but the vacant UFC flyweight title will only be on the line for Benavidez in the bout. That’s because Figueiredo stepped onto the scales at 127.5lbs, coming in 2.5lbs heavy for his vacant flyweight title fight against Benavidez on his first attempt on the scale to make weight.
Amanda Nunes expected to defend women's featherweight title at UFC 250
Adam Martin - February 28, 2020
UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes is expected to defend her 145lbs title at UFC 250 this May in Brazil. UFC 250 is scheduled to take place on May 9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The card will be headlined by UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo when he takes on Jose Aldo in his first title defense at 135lbs. Nunes has plenty of experience fighting as the co-main event in title defenses and would slot in nicely in the co-headlining slot on this card.
Fabian Edwards vs Costello Van Steenis to fight in Bellator London co-main event.
Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020
Fabian Edwards will fight Costello Van Steenis in the Bellator London co-main event in May 2020. The UK-based fighter and younger brother of UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards, “The Assassin” has become one of Bellator’s rising stars. In his last bout, he faced Londoner Mike Shipman in an eagerly anticipated grudge-match last November. The close contest proved to be Edwards’ most challenging fight of his career, but the middleweight secured the split decision victory. He remains undefeated since making his professional debut in 2017.
Joshua Fabia takes credit for 'remarkable' changes to Diego Sanchez
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020
Joshua Fabia says Diego Sanchez is still evolving as a fighter — even at 38 years old and after close to 20 years in the UFC. He believes that continued evolution is “remarkable” and is taking full credit for it. “You’re an expert, and you didn’t point out that it’s kind of (expletive) amazing that Diego Sanchez, 16 years in the UFC, been pretty much the Rocky Marciano of the sport – he’s moving,” Fabia told MMA Junkie this week. “He can change stance. He went from a southpaw to this. How are you not putting the emphasis on a 38-year-old man, in less than a year, changed his style – and one guy did it? Not a team of six guys. How come no one is saying anything positive like that? You see it, but you’re not giving credit to the professional that has done something remarkable.”
Dana White says he doesn't care if he loses UFC fans over friendship with Donald Trump: 'I don't give a sh*t'
Adam Martin - February 28, 2020
UFC president Dana White says he doesn’t care if he loses UFC fans over his friendship with United States President Donald Trump. White recently spoke at Trump’s political rally in Colorado which led to criticism from a segment of MMA fans who are not Trump supporters. There were a number of MMA fans who were upset White spoke so glowingly about President Trump, but White doesn’t care what they think.
Team Deiveson Figueiredo releases statement on weight miss, says doctors told him to stop cutting
Cole Shelton - February 28, 2020
Deiveson Figueiredo was looking to become the new UFC flyweight champion on Saturday but that will no longer be the case. In the main event of UFC Norfolk, Figueiredo was set to take on Joseph Benavidez for the vacant flyweight title. Yet, on Friday morning, the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5 pounds and didn’t attempt to cut the remaining pounds. Meaning Benavidez will be the only one who can win the flyweight title on Saturday night.
UFC Norfolk weigh-in results: Deiveson Figueiredo misses weight for vacant flyweight title bout
Adam Martin - February 28, 2020
The UFC Norfolk weigh-ins took place on Friday morning and two fighters missed weight, including headliner Deiveson Figueiredo for his fight against Joesph Benavidez. Benavidez and Figueiredo are set to fight for five rounds or less for the vacant UFC flyweight championship. Benavidez stepped onto the sale early on and made the weight easily at 124.5lbs. However, Figueiredo didn’t do the same. The Brazilian stepped onto the scale at 127.5lbs, missing weight for the flyweight title bout. Figueiredo has one hour to make weight, but with 2.5lbs to cut to make the flyweight title limit of 125lbs, it seems unlikely he will be able to do so.
Umar Nurmagomedov receives immediate callout from 'The Machine' after signing with UFC
Harry Kettle - February 28, 2020
Umar Nurmagomedov has been immediately called out by Merab Dvalishvili after it was revealed that he has signed with the UFC. The highly thought of younger cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov has been making waves for a while now, accumulating a 12-0 professional mixed martial arts record prior to his entry into the UFC. The expectations are obviously going to be high regarding what he can accomplish with the promotion, and it doesn’t seem as if the UFC is going to waste any time in booking him.
Joseph Benavidez explains why he doesn’t have to defeat Henry Cejudo in order to validate flyweight title
Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020
Joseph Benavidez recently explained why he doesn’t need to beat Henry Cejudo to be worthy of the flyweight title. This weekend at UFC Norfolk, Benavidez will face Deiveson Figueiredo for the flyweight strap. The 125-pound belt is up for grabs ever since Henry Cejudo was stripped of the title.
ONE: King of the Jungle results and highlights: Stamp Fairtex surrenders title
Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020
Stamp Fairtex is no longer a two-sport champ. In the main event of Friday’s ONE: King of the Jungle card in Singapore, Stamp sought to defend her ONE atomweight kickboxing title against California’s Janet Todd — who she defeated by decision to win the ONE atomweight Muay Thai title roughly one year ago. It was an extremely competitive fight, with Todd finding success with her boxing and volume, and Stamp bludgeoning her challenger with a steady diet of leg kicks. Ultimately, however, the judges handed Todd a split decision victory. She’ll return to California with a ONE world title belt in her luggage, while Stamp’s dreams of becoming a three-sport champ are dashed for the time being.
PHOTO | Motorcycle crash cancels UFC 248 bantamweight bout
Harry Kettle - February 28, 2020
Movsar Evloev is out of his scheduled fight against Jamall Emmers at UFC 248 as a result of a nasty motorcycle crash. The big event next weekend will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada with the headline bout being Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Further down the card, though, many fans were intrigued by the possibility of seeing Evloev square off with Emmers on the prelims.
Diego Sanchez details difficulties finding ‘the kill zone’ in fight with Michel Pereira
Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020
Diego Sanchez came up short against Michel Pereira this month at UFC on ESPN+ 25 in Rio Rancho. Pereira appeared to have the upper hand until he struck his opponent with an illegal knee that changed the course of action. Sanchez decided not to continue the bout and was awarded a disqualification victory.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira says Shogun Rua trilogy will be his 'farewell fight'
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2020
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira expects to end his legendary career at UFC 250 when he has his trilogy fight against Shogun Rua. Nogueira hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Ryan Spann back at UFC 237. The 43-year-old Brazilian legend is just 4-6 in his last 10, so he says this fight against Rua will be his farewell fight.
Dustin Poirier hints at main event fight against Dan Hooker
Cole Shelton - February 27, 2020
Dustin Poirier has hinted at his next fight on social media. Poirier has been campaigning for a scrap for weeks and now has taken to Twitter to hint at a possible main event fight against Dan Hooker. The Kiwi, of course, had stated that he would like to fight Poirier, if Justin Gaethje was not available.
Michael Bisping explains why trash talk was crucial to defeating Anderson Silva
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2020
Michael Bisping had plenty to say about former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva ahead of their 2016 scrap, and almost none of it was positive. As it turns out, Bisping actually had a lot of respect for the former champion, but realized a little bit of trash talk was crucial to getting the victory — which he wound up doing via unanimous decision.
Troy Worthen recounts his journey from Central Florida to the bright lights of ONE Championship
Tom Taylor - February 27, 2020
Troy Worthen was in line to ride Doctor Doom’s Fearfall at Universal Studios in Orlando when he got an email that changed his life. Several weeks prior, he applied to try out for Evolve MMA, a famed fight team based in Singapore — a world away from his Central Florida home. As he waited to get on the ride, he finally heard back.