MMA News
Francis Ngannou responds to Jon Jones "motivate me more" request: "I shouldn’t have to motivate you Jonny... if it’s not in you already you’ve already lost."
Christopher Taylor - April 30, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has responded to Jon Jones, this after ‘Bones’ requested ‘The Predator’ motivate him more for a potential fight. The promotions former light heavyweight kingpin, Jones (26-1 MMA), was expected to face the winner of UFC 260’s Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic rematch.
Paige VanZant's BKFC debut reportedly sells only 5k pay-per-views for TV
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2021
Paige VanZant’s highly-anticipated BKFC debut on February 5 has reportedly struggled with pay-per-views. VanZant made the move to the sans gloves promotion after she was submitted by Amanda Ribas at UFC 251. It was a surprise to many, but also created interest to see how she would fare against Britain Hart in her debut. The fight seemed like it would gain some solid attraction, but according to the Wrestling Observer, the fight only sold 5,000 pay-per-views on TV.
UFC Vegas 25 weigh-in results: Jiri Prochazka and Dominick Reyes on point, but two fighters miss
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
The UFC Vegas 25: Reyes vs. Prochazka weigh-ins took place on Friday and 22 of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete made weigh for the event. The main event of UFC Vegas 25 features Jiri Prochazka and Dominick Reyes going at it for 25 minutes or less in a light heavyweight headliner. Prochazka has won 11 straight fights entering this bout, including a knockout win over Volkan Oezdemir in his UFC debut. Reyes, on the other hand, rides into this fight on the first two-fight losing streak of his career, having dropped back-to-back fights against Jon Jones and Jan Blachowicz. Both Reyes and Prochazka made weight and the UFC Vegas 25 headliner is now official for Saturday night.
Kamaru Usman wants to face Michael Chiesa at UFC 263 in June, says Ali Abdelaziz
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2021
Kamaru Usman is hoping to be active in 2021 and eyes his next title defense against Michael Chiesa, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz revealed. After Usman knocked out Jorge Masvidal in the second round at UFC 261, Dana White confirmed Colby Covington would be next. However, according to Abdelaziz, he and Usman don’t know why Covington is so special and believe he needs to get another win. Instead, they are hoping they can fight again in June against Michael Chiesa.
Anthony Johnson issues statement after Yoel Romero pulled from Bellator light heavyweight tournament
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
Anthony Johnson issued a statement after Yoel Romero was pulled from the upcoming Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament. Johnson vs. Romero was one of four scheduled quarterfinal bouts in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix and it was set to go down next Friday, May 7 for five rounds or less. Unfortunately for both men, the fight will not go on as planned after Romero failed a pre-fight medical scan and was removed from the tournament entirely. That means Johnson currently is without an opponent, though Bellator is expected to name a replacement soon, with Julius Anglickas the favorite to take Romero’s spot in the tourney.
Anderson Silva believes YouTubers are disrespecting boxing
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva believes that YouTubers are disrespecting boxing and he hopes that changes going forward. Silva is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time and he also has professional boxing experience, having had two fights over the course of his legendary combat sports career. In June, Silva will return to the boxing ring when he takes on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in what is his first boxing match since 2005. For Silva, he has been boxing for over 20 years and has always made it known that he wanted to return to the squared circle one day. He will get that opportunity next month when he takes on Chavez Jr. in a pro boxing match.
Chris Weidman details the emotions he felt when he realized his leg broke at UFC 261
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman detailed the emotions he felt when he realized his leg broke against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. The first kick that Weidman threw against Hall resulted in him seeing his right leg break in half in one of the most gruesome injuries we have ever seen in the UFC. It was a horrific injury that no one wishes upon their opponents, and it stands to reason that Weidman will be on the shelf for a long time now while he tries to mend his leg. Taking to his Instagram live in the days following the brutal injury, Weidman took fans through his headspace of when the finish happened and what exactly was going through his head at the time.
Jon Jones "will dominate the heavyweight division" once he gets Ngannou fight, says teammate Devin Clark
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender, Devin Clark has seen Jon Jones training for his heavyweight move and has sky-high expectations for him. After Jones beat Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 to defend his light heavyweight title, he vacated the belt as the plan was to move up to heavyweight. However, a deal is not done and Dana White has said Jones has priced himself out of the negotiations.
Zabit Magomedsharipov reportedly considering walking away from the UFC
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
UFC featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov is reportedly considering walking away from the world’s leading MMA promotion. Magomedsharipov was recently removed from the UFC rankings due to inactivity, as his last fight in the Octagon took place in November 2019 when he defeated Calvin Kattar by decision in Russia. Since then, Magomedsharipov has had difficulty getting a fight. He was supposed to face off against rival Yair Rodriguez on multiple occasions, but his opponent withdrew from the fight every time. That leaves Magomedsharipov in a frustrating situation as he does not have a fight booked and there doesn’t appear to be anything coming to fruition anytime soon. With nothing booked, he is considering walking away from MMA.
Rory MacDonald reacts after beating Curtis Millender at PFL 2
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
Former UFC and Bellator welterweight star Rory MacDonald reacted after beating Curtis Millender by first-round submission at PFL 2. MacDonald hadn’t fought since October 2019, when he dropped a decision to Douglas Lima in Bellator in what was his final fight before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. After taking all of 2020 off, PFL is back for its third season in 2021, and MacDonald was matched up in his first regular-season fight against Millender at PFL 2 on Thursday night. It didn’t take long for “The Red King” to land the takedown, take the back of Millender, and get back in the win column. It was a fantastic win by MacDonald and showed he’s still a talented fighter.
Dana White reacts after the UFC parts ways with former TUF 1 winner Diego Sanchez
Harry Kettle - April 30, 2021
UFC president Dana White has reacted to the news that the promotion has parted ways with MMA legend Diego Sanchez. It was revealed overnight that Sanchez, who has been with the UFC for 16 years, has now left after what appeared to be a mutual agreement between the two parties. The move came despite Sanchez winning three of his last five fights with his final appearance being a decision loss to Jake Matthews last September.
UFC Owner calls Zhang Weili 'Li Na' when discussing promotion going public
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2021
China’s first-ever UFC champion was the strawweight division’s Zhang Weili (21-2). After performing in the UFC 261 co-main event, the promotion’s owner, Ari Emanuel, didn’t appear to know who she was. On Thursday, the UFC went public as an organization. To discuss the news, Emanuel got in front of the cameras for a change just days removed from the huge UFC 261 event in Jacksonville, Florida.
PFL 2 Results: Rory MacDonald submits Curtis Millender in round one (Highlights)
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2021
The PFL’s 2021 season is officially underway. After a wild first event, it was on to the next as Rory MacDonald made his long-awaited debut. Standing in his way was fellow UFC and Bellator veteran, “Courteous” Curtis Millender. MacDonald was last in action in October 2019 when rematching Douglas Lima. After a successful Bellator debut in May 2017 against Paul Daley, MacDonald went on to defeat Lima and become the welterweight champion.
Diego Sanchez posts video of Joshua Fabia fighter meeting altercation
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2021
Diego Sanchez’s run in the UFC has seemingly come to an abrupt ending just a week before his matchup against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. On Tuesday it was revealed that Sanchez was out of his fight next weekend at UFC Vegas 26. However, no reason was given upon the initial report. As of today, MiddleEasy came out reporting that Sanchez had been released by the promotion due to his recent “trash-talking” of the company.
Calvin Kattar says he's looking forward "to a Round 6" with Max Holloway in the future
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
Calvin Kattar is hoping to rematch Max Holloway down the line. In the first UFC event of 2021, Kattar and Holloway fought on UFC on ABC 1 on Fight Island and many expected it to be a competitive fight. Yet, it was far from that as Holloway landed the most significant strikes in a fight and won a clear-cut decision.
Robert Whittaker reveals he fought Kelvin Gastelum with torn ligaments in his hand
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
Robert Whittaker put on a dominant performance over Kelvin Gastelum on April 17 and did so while fighting with an injury. Whittaker was supposed to face Paulo Costa on the card but the Brazilian was forced out of the bout and Gastelum stepped up on short notice. However, when Whittaker arrived in Las Vegas and began training he tore ligaments in his hand. Even though he had torn ligaments in his hand, he still earned a dominant decision over Gastelum.
Glover Teixeira explains how he overcame obstacles to earn UFC title shot at age 41
Adam D Martin - April 29, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira explained how he overcame obstacles in his career to earn a title shot at age 41. Teixeira is 41 years old which makes him one of the oldest fighters on the UFC roster in 2021. However, despite his age, he has been absolutely destroying everyone in his path, winning his last five fights in a row en route to getting a title shot against UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in September at UFC 266. It’s incredible that Teixeira has now been in the UFC for nearly 10 years and yet remains fighting at such a high level despite many of his contemporaries falling off the map in recent years.
Israel Adesanya explains why he is fighting Marvin Vettori next
Adam D Martin - April 29, 2021
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya explained why he is fighting Marvin Vettori next and not Robert Whittaker as many expected him to. Adesanya was widely expected to fight Whittaker in a rematch after the Aussie had a stellar performance at UFC Vegas 24 recently to pick up his third straight win. However, the UFC instead chose to go with Vettori for the title shot, which surprised a lot of people. According to the champ himself, it was a matter of timing as to why Vettori is getting the title shot.