MMA News
Video | Dana White drops the ball during Ion Cutelaba and Dustin Jacoby faceoff
Chris Taylor - May 1, 2021
Dana White seemingly dropped the ball during Friday’s UFC Vegas 25 faceoff between light heavyweight fighters Ion Cutelaba and Dustin Jacoby. Just two weeks after blaming matchmaker Sean Shelby for allowing “wild man” Jeremy Stephens to push and injure Drakker Klose at the UFC Vegas 24 weigh-ins, the promotional President found himself standing in similar shoes on Friday afternoon.
Diaz manager on Khamzat Chimaev: “He’s a good prospect, respectfully, but he hasn’t earned the right to a mega-fight vs. Nick Diaz”
Chris Taylor - May 1, 2021
Nick Diaz will not be making his highly anticipated Octagon return against Khamzat Chimaev according to his manager Kevin Mubenga. Earlier this week, Chris Taylor of BJPENN.com reported that the eldest Diaz brother had been formally offered a fight with Chimaev for later this summer.
Jon Jones unloads after Francis Ngannou suggests he is just a "decision fighter"
Chris Taylor - May 1, 2021
The online sparring between Jon Jones and current UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou continued on Saturday afternoon. Prior to UFC 260, it was thought that the winner of Ngannou vs. Miocic 2 would defend their title against Jones next. ‘Bones’ of course had vacated the promotions light heavyweight strap back in the summer of 2020, citing his intentions of pursuing the UFC’s heavyweight crown.
Anthony Johnson receives new opponent for Bellator 258, set to face Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros
Alfredo Zullino - May 1, 2021
With Yoel Romero out of his fight against Anthony Johnson, the latter has found a new opponent in Jose Augusto Azevedo Barros for the upcoming Bellator light heavyweight grand prix. The news was originally reported by ESPN journalist Ariel Helwani on Friday.
Joshua Fabia leaks phone call with UFC’s chief legal officer Hunter Campbell regarding Diego Sanchez's medicals
Christopher Taylor - April 30, 2021
Diego Sanchez may have parted ways with the UFC but that is not stopping his coach Joshua Fabia from creating some final drama. The former TUF 1 winner, Sanchez (30-13 MMA), was slated to make his final Octagon appearance on May 8 against former training partner Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
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.
Diego Sanchez paid full show and win money for canceled Donald Cerrone fight after being released from the UFC
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2021
Diego Sanchez was released from the UFC on Thursday night, but he was paid his show and win money. Sanchez was supposed to have his retirement fight on May 8 against Donald Cerrone in a very intriguing bout. However, it was revealed he was out of the fight, and shortly thereafter, it was announced he was released from the promotion.
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.
Francis Ngannou responds to callout from Tyson Fury: “I’ll take care of Jon Jones first”
Harry Kettle - April 30, 2021
Francis Ngannou has suggested he would welcome the opportunity to fight Tyson Fury – but only after he’s done with Jon Jones. Ngannou is on top of the world right now after beating Stipe Miocic to become UFC heavyweight champion. Many believe he could be a dominant champion for years to come, but right now, it feels as if the UFC are taking things one step at a time.
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.
Yoel Romero fails pre-fight medical, forced out of Anthony Johnson fight
Cole Shelton - April 29, 2021
Yoel Romero is out of his fight against Anthony Johnson on May 7. Romero and Johnson were set to make their Bellator debuts in the quarterfinals of the light heavyweight grand prix. It was a highly-anticipated fight but on Thursday evening, the promotion revealed to CBS Sports that Romero is out of the scrap and the tournament after he failed his pre-fight medical. The nature of Romero’s issue of why he failed the medical was not disclosed.
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.