MMA News
Dana White confirms that if Kamaru Usman defeats Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, a rematch with Colby Covington is next
Adam D Martin - April 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White confirmed that Colby Covington will face the winner of UFC 261’s main event between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. Usman and Masvidal meet this Saturday night in the main event of the UFC 261 pay-per-view card. Some were surprised that Masvidal got the rematch considering he just lost to Usman in his last fight at UFC 251 last summer on Fight Island, as many thought Covington would get the rematch with Usman since he just defeated Tyron Woodley via TKO. But the UFC decided to give Masvidal the rematch, which leaves Covington without an opponent.
Marlon Vera set for Davey Grant rematch at UFC Fight Night on June 19
Andrew Whitelaw - April 20, 2021
Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera has been booked to fight Davey Grant at UFC Fight Night 190 on June 19. It’s a card that could well deliver fireworks with all-action featherweights Chan Sung Jung and Dan Ige going head-to-head in the main event. Vera is pleased to be back in the Octagon. The outspoken South American was pleading for a fight just last week, tweeting: “May June July Just give me paperwork to sign the sooner the better.”
Dana White addresses the UFC middleweight title picture following Robert Whittaker’s beatdown of Kelvin Gastelum
Harry Kettle - April 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White has confirmed that he believes Robert Whittaker should be next in line to face Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title. Whittaker is coming off the back of an impressive win over Kelvin Gastelum this past weekend with many believing it’s the best he’s ever looked in the UFC. The victory goes nicely alongside his recent successes against Darren Till and Jared Cannonier with many believing he’s the natural No. 1 contender at 185 pounds.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Augusto Sakai set as UFC Fight Night main event
Adam D Martin - April 20, 2021
A heavyweight bout between top-10 heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Augusto Sakai will headline a UFC Fight Night card in June. MMA reporter Marcelo Barone of Globo first reported that Sakai’s upcoming fight on May 1 against Shamil Adburakhimov was scrapped due to visa issues for the Russian. Instead of finding Sakai a new opponent for that card, the promotion has instead shifted Sakai to the main event showdown with Rozenstruik on June 5. The two top-10 ranked heavyweights will now meet for five rounds or less in a fight that likely won’t go the full five rounds.
Ben Askren reveals Nate Robinson reached out to him following KO loss to Jake Paul
Adam D Martin - April 20, 2021
Former MMA fighter-turned-boxer Ben Askren revealed that former NBA star Nate Robinson reached out to him following his KO loss to Jake Paul. Robinson, of course, was knocked out by Paul last November in Paul’s second professional boxing match. Robinson became a bit of an Internet meme following that loss, which was a devastating second-round KO, something that Askren himself is facing now that he’s been knocked out by Paul, too, having been finished by “The Problem Child” this past weekend.
UFC president Dana White says a rematch with Derrick Lewis is “probably” next for Francis Ngannou
Harry Kettle - April 20, 2021
UFC president Dana White believes a rematch against Derrick Lewis is “probably” next for UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Ngannou has been riding high ever since knocking out Stipe Miocic to finally win the title – three years on from his first shot at the strap. It was easily one of the most impressive championship-level performances we’ve seen in years in the UFC, and it’s put Ngannou on the map as one of the most dangerous men on the planet.
Dana White reacts after Jake Paul KO's Ben Askren in the opening round: "Good for him"
Christopher Taylor - April 19, 2021
UFC President Dana White has shared his thoughts on Jake Paul after the YouTube sensation knocked out Ben Askren on Saturday night. Paul (3-0) returned to the squared circle on Saturday night in Atlanta for a scheduled eight-round boxing match with former MMA champion Ben Askren (19-2 MMA).
Bellator parts ways with 9 fighters including MMA veteran Roger Huerta
Christopher Taylor - April 19, 2021
Bellator has parted ways with a total of nine fighters including notable MMA veterans Roger Huerta and Brandon Girtz. Promotional officials told MMAJunkie on Monday that Bellator had released nine athletes from their current roster.
Ben Askren says loss to Jake Paul is “equally embarrassing” as Masvidal defeat, has no regrets of taking fight
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
Ben Askren has no regrets about taking the boxing fight against Jake Paul, but says the loss is still embarrassing. Askren was far from a boxer and admitted if Paul was actually good he would lose. However, he didn’t get to show much as the YouTuber turned boxer landed an overhand right that connected and dropped him and the ref waived the fight off.
Conor McGregor responds after Justin Gaethje claims his gloves are garbage: “I’d smoke you and your coach at the same time in these”
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
Conor McGregor has made it clear he would beat up Justin Gaethje after “The Highlight” took a shot at him on social media. After McGregor took to social media to release a new glove design, many including Gaethje thought they looked very similar to his coach, Trevor Wittman’s. Wittman has been vocal about his glove design and trying to sell it to the UFC to limit eye pokes.
Manager: Conor McGregor gets a title shot with a win over Dustin Poirier, says he's "one of the greatest of all time"
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
Conor McGregor is on the verge of a lightweight title shot, according to his manager, Audie Attar. McGregor is the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion and is set to return to the Octagon on July 10 against Dustin Poirier. The fight serves as the trilogy between them after Poirier scored a second-round TKO win back in January.
Jorge Masvidal says Kamaru Usman is "one of the softest hitters" he's ever fought
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
Jorge Masvidal isn’t worried about Kamaru Usman’s power ahead of their rematch at UFC 261. Masvidal and Usman fought last July at UFC 251 where Usman used his wrestling and clinch work to win a decision, in a fight “Gamebred” took on six day’s notice. It was a highly-anticipated bout, but the fight was lackluster. Now, heading into the rematch, Masvidal says Usman doesn’t have fight-ending power.
Photo | Check out the poster for UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2021
With UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler now less than a month away from taking place, take a look at the new poster for the event. UFC 262 takes place on May 15 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The main event features the vacant UFC lightweight title on the line as Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler. Oliveira has won his last eight fights in a row and has been absolutely running through everyone on his path with relative ease. Chandler, meanwhile, knocked out Dan Hooker in his UFC debut earlier this year and overall has won his last three fights in a row by knockout. Both Oliveira and Chandler are two of the best lightweight in the world and this should be a fantastic matchup to determine the heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
AJ McKee confident he will KO Patricio Pitbull to claim featherweight title: "I will be too much for him"
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
AJ McKee has known it would be him and Patricio Pitbull in the finals of the featherweight grand prix. McKee made quick work of Georgi Karakhanyan and then submitted Derek Camps and Darrion Caldwell to reach the finals. Pitbull, meanwhile, beat Juan Archuleta and then KO’d Pedro Carvalho and submitted Emmanuel Sanchez to reach the finals.
After Jake Paul knocked out Ben Askren, who might be next for him?
Cole Shelton - April 19, 2021
Jake Paul picked up the biggest win of his boxing career as he scored a first-round TKO over Ben Askren on Saturday night. Entering the highly-anticipated fight, many were interested to see how Paul would fare against a legit combat sports athlete. Just like his other two fights, the YouTuber made quick work of his opponent as he scored a first-round TKO win.
The Ultimate Fighter 29 full cast and season premiere date revealed
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2021
The full cast and the premiere date have officially been revealed for the 29th season of The Ultimate Fighter reality television show. UFC president Dana White has teased for months now that TUF would be returning now that the world’s leading MMA promotion has a deal with ESPN. Up to this point, we haven’t heard many details about the 29th season of the show, except that it would feature bantamweights and middleweights. Recently, we found out that the coaches would be UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and top contender Brian Ortega.
Amanda Nunes opens as big betting favorite over Julianna Pena
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2021
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes opened up as a big betting favorite for her upcoming title defense against Julianna Pena. It was revealed last week that Nunes will move back down to 135lbs for her next fight and put her belt on the line against Pena at UFC 265, which takes place on August 7 at a location that has yet to be determined. Pena was extremely vocal in the media about wanting to get the title shot and, in a division where there are very few other fresh contenders, UFC president Dana White eventually gave in and gave her the title shot.
Robert Whittaker issues statement following win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Vegas 24
Adam D Martin - April 19, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Robert Whittaker issued a statement following his unanimous decision win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Vegas 24. In one of his most complete performances to date, Whittaker won a lopsided unanimous decision in the main event of this past Saturday’s UFC Vegas 24 card. Whittaker outstruck Gastelum on the feet and he also utilized his wrestling in order to mix things up and take Gastelum out of his element. It was one of Whittaker’s best performances in the Octagon to date as he picked up his third straight victory. It was the kind of win that could earn him a title shot rematch against UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in his next fight.