MMA News
Colby Covington tells Kamaru Usman to "show the world some balls" and fight him again
Adam Martin - April 8, 2021
Top contender Colby Covington told his rival, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, to “show the world some balls” and fight him again. Covington and Usman met back at UFC 245 in December 2019. In what was Usman’s toughest test to date, Covington took him late into the fifth round in a tooth-and-nail fight. In the last minute of the fight, Usman landed the knockout blow when he broke Covington’s jaw and referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight. Covington to this day swears it was a quick stoppage and badly wants the rematch. However, to this point, Covington hasn’t been able to get a second fight with Usman, who instead chose to rematch Jorge Masvidal.
UFC fighter Sasha Palatnikov explains why he smokes weed: "It really helps me... because every day I’m getting punched and kicked by human beings”
Adam Martin - April 8, 2021
This Saturday night at UFC Vegas 23, welterweight prospect Sasha Palatnikov makes his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon. A veteran of UAE Warriors who packs a powerful punch, Palatnikov made his debut in the big show last year at UFC 255 when he picked up one of the biggest upset victories of 2020 when he finished Louis Cosce in the third round via TKO. This weekend, he returns to the Octagon when he takes on Impa Kasanagay on the UFC Vegas 23 undercard. It’s an excellent fight between two legitimate welterweight prospects and the winner will likely be in line for a bigger-name their next time out. Ahead of his upcoming fight, Palatnikov sat down with the Fanatics Fantasy MMA App team. The 32-year-old Hong Kong native and current Vegas resident spoke for over an hour with the team about a wide variety of topics, but one topic that piqued the fighter’s interest, in particular, was when he was asked how he celebrates after his fights. The Vegas resident admitted right away that he doesn’t like drinking.
David Michaud announces withdrawal from PFL tournament due to heart condition, career in doubt
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
PFL welterweight contender David Michaud announced his withdrawal from the PFL tournament due to a heart condition and his career is in doubt. Michaud is a former UFC fighter and current PFL standout who was expected to compete in the promotion’s upcoming welterweight tournament. As part of the regular season, “The Bulldawg” was scheduled to meet former UFC title contender Rory MacDonald in what would have been an awesome fight. Unfortunately for Michaud, he is out of the fight and out of the tournament due to serious health issues that have left his career in jeopardy.
Joe Solecki eager to share the Octagon with a "very dangerous" Jim Miller: "I've been watching him since I was 12"
Cole Shelton - April 8, 2021
Joe Solecki didn’t think he would be fighting Jim Miller in just his third UFC fight. After Solecki submitted Austin Hubbard last August, he wanted time off with a newborn on the way. However, the hope was to return in December or January, but the first contract offer he got was to face Miller.
Georges St-Pierre calls Khabib Nurmagomedov the "scariest" pound-for-pound fighter in the world
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
UFC legend Georges St-Pierre called former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov the “scariest” pound-for-pound fighter in the world. St-Pierre and Nurmagomedov were widely connected for a potential fight between two of the best to ever do it. When you talk about the greatest fighters in the sport’s history, both GSP and Nurmagomedov are at the top of the list. There was hope that the two fighters would step into the Octagon together, but both men are happily retired and the fight seems like a pipe dream at this point, one of the “what if?” fights that we will never see in MMA.
Video | Eddie Alvarez sheds tears after Iuri Lapicus leaves on stretcher following DQ at ONE on TNT 1
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
ONE Championship lightweight Eddie Alvarez got very emotional and shed tears after Iuri Lapicus left on a stretcher following ONE on TNT 1. Alvarez took on Lapicus in the main card opener of the ONE on TNT 1 card on Wednesday night. The former UFC lightweight champion looked good early on as he was able to get Lapicus down to the mat and then tee off on punches. Unfortunately, some of the punches that Alvarez landed were deemed illegal shots to the back of the head by the referee, and “The Underground King” suffered a DQ loss. To make matters worse, Lapicus appeared to be seriously injured as he needed a stretcher to come into the cage and take him away.
Jon Jones seems optimistic that he will reach a deal with Dana White
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones seems optimistic that he will get a deal done with UFC president Dana White to fight Francis Ngannou. Jones and the UFC have been involved in very public contract negotiations for a potential heavyweight title fight with the new UFC champion Ngannou. The original plan was for Jones to fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic 2 at UFC 260, but since that fight happened, White has suggested that Derrick Lewis could be Ngannou’s next opponent. That’s because Jones wants more money than the UFC initially offered. According to “Bones” he balked at the promotion’s initial suggestion of $8 to $10 million dollars.
Valerie Loureda returns at Bellator 258
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
Women’s flyweight prospect Valerie Loureda returns to the cage at Bellator 258 when she takes on promotional newcomer Hannah Guy. Tom Taylor of Maxim.com was the first to report the Loureda vs. Guy fight, which will take place at Bellator 258 on May 7. The stacked card already features Bellator bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis in the main event, plus a five-round co-main event bout between light heavyweights Yoel Romero and Anthony Johnson. Romero is Loureda’s teammate at American Top Team and they will both be on the same card.
Adriano Moraes credits Jorge Masvidal for knee that knocked out Demetrious Johnson
Adam D Martin - April 8, 2021
ONE Championship flyweight champion Adriano Moraes credited teammate Jorge Masvidal for the knee that knocked out Demetrious Johnson. Moraes shocked the world when he knocked out Johnson at ONE on TNT 1 on Wednesday night. The underrated Brazilian was a +500 underdog at the sportsbooks to defeat Johnson, who was a 10-to-1 favorite, but he did just that and more with flying colors. After a competitive first round that saw Moraes utilize his size advantage, in the second round Moraes dropped Johnson with an uppercut, and then he finished him off with a brutal knee on the ground. It was an incredible win for Moraes that legitimizes him as a champion.
Ryan Bader unwilling to vacate heavyweight title, suggests Bellator make an interim belt
Harry Kettle - April 8, 2021
Ryan Bader isn’t willing to vacate his Bellator Heavyweight Championship as he prepares to enter the promotion’s light heavyweight tournament. Bader has been one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in Bellator for a few years now and while he may be moving into the twilight of his career, it definitely feels like he has the chance to cause some real damage in the aforementioned tournament.
Video | ‘Reug Reug’ scores another brutal finish at ONE on TNT 1
Harry Kettle - April 8, 2021
Oumar Kane, better know as Reug Reug, moved to 2-0 with ONE Championship thanks to a brutal finish during ONE on TNT 1 last night. It’s been well established within the mixed martial arts sphere that Reug Reug is a force to be reckoned with for quite some time now. From his power to his incredible physique, he seems to be one to watch at heavyweight moving forward.
Demetrious Johnson issues statement following first knockout loss
Drake Riggs - April 7, 2021
The unthinkable happened during ONE Championship’s first TNT event, ONE on TNT 1. The legendary Demetrious Johnson suffered a knockout loss. Entering his fourth bout with the promotion, Johnson had earned his title opportunity by winning his way through the ONE flyweight Grand Prix. Unfortunately for him, the champion in Adriano Moraes proved he was more legit than ever by putting away “Mighty Mouse” in just the second round.
ONE on TNT 1 Results: Adriano Moraes KO's Demetrious Johnson (Video)
Christopher Taylor - April 7, 2021
After claiming Grand Prix victory, Demetrious Johnson is set to challenge Adriano Moraes for the flyweight championship at tonight’s ONE on TNT 1 event. Johnson (30-4-1 MMA) won the ONE Championship Flyweight Grand Prix back in October of 2019, this after defeating Danny Kingad by unanimous decision. The former UFC flyweight kingpin, ‘Mighty Mouse’, has gone 3-0 since being traded to ONE in October of 2018.
Pros react after Eddie Alvarez vs. Iuri Lapicus is ruled a DQ at ONE on TNT 1
Christopher Taylor - April 7, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez returned to action at tonight’s ONE on TNT 1 event for a bout with Iuri Lapicus. Alvarez (30-7 MMA) was returning to action for this first time since scoring a first-round submission victory over Eduard Folayang in August of 2019. That victory had marked Eddie’s first under the ONE banner, as he had suffered a TKO loss to Timofey Nastyukhin in his promotional debut.
ONE on TNT 1 Results: Eddie Alvarez disqualified in fight with Iuri Lapicus (Video)
Christopher Taylor - April 7, 2021
Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez returns to action at tonight’s ONE on TNT 1 event for a bout with Iuri Lapicus. Alvarez (30-7 MMA) will be returning to action for this first time since scoring a first-round submission victory over Eduard Folayang in August of 2019. That victory marked Eddie’s first under the ONE banner, as he had suffered a TKO loss to Timofey Nastyukhin in his promotional debut.
Mike Perry 'was looking forward to maybe slapping' Darren Till at UFC Vegas 23, wants to fight him next
Drake Riggs - April 7, 2021
Originally, Darren Till and Mike Perry were both booked to compete at UFC Vegas 23 this Saturday night. Unfortunately, a broken collarbone forced Till out of his main event with Marvin Vettori. Having had a very colorful history with one another, Perry remains interested in getting his hands on Till at some point. He was actually hoping to do so during their shared fight week.
Andrei Arlovski steps in on short notice to fight Chase Sherman on April 17
Cole Shelton - April 7, 2021
Andrei Arlovski is stepping up on short notice to fight Chase Sherman on April 17. Originally, Sherman was supposed to fight Parker Porter, but unfortunately, due to undisclosed reasons, Porter is out of the fight. Yet, the good news for Sherman is he gets a bigger name as former UFC heavyweight champion, Andrei Arlovski has agreed to step up on short notice according to Fight Bananas.
Jorge Masvidal says he would've ended up in jail if he did TUF with Colby Covington: "I was for sure going to end up in handcuffs"
Cole Shelton - April 7, 2021
Jorge Masvidal has an interesting reason why he didn’t end up coaching The Ultimate Fighter against Colby Covington. When the UFC announced the return of the show, all the signs pointed to Masvidal and Covington serving as the coaches. Dana White said the coaches would be welterweights. Yet, as the UFC wanted to have a full capacity crowd in Jacksonville, those plans changed. The promotion decided to book Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2 and Covington was left on the outside looking in.