MMA News
25-year-old kickboxer Joel Cahuasqui passes away after suffering high kick knockout
Adam D Martin - April 4, 2021
25-year-old kickboxer Joel Cahuasqui tragically passed away after suffering a high kick knockout in a recent fight in Ecuador last week. Cahuasqui took part in the KickBoxing National Selective and Pacific Cup Championship last week in Ecuador. Despite wearing headgear during the fight, a high kick from his opponent connected to the left side of his head and knocked Cahuasqui out cold. According to “El Norte,” there were no paramedics ringside and the fighter was rushed to the hospital. He suffered a brain hemorrhage from the high kick and doctors were not able to save him as the young fighter was later removed from his ventilator and pronounced dead. Cahuasqui was just 25 years old and his death is a very tragic one as a young man has lost his life.
Opening odds released for Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson and Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Adam D Martin - April 4, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for two future fights UFC: Gilbert Burns vs. Stephen Thompson and Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov. Burns vs. Thompson is set to take place at UFC 264 on July 10 as a three-round bout, while Gane vs. Volkov will go down on June 26 in a five-round main event. The sportsbooks wasted no time getting the opening odds out for both of these fights. Take a look at the opening odds for both Burns vs. Thompson and Gane vs. Volkov below (via BestFightOdds).
Patricio Pitbull and AJ McKee get into heated verbal exchange at Bellator 255 (Video)
Adam D Martin - April 4, 2021
Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull and No. 1 contender AJ McKee got into a heated verbal exchange following Bellator 255. Pitbull finished Emmanuel Sanchez on Friday in the main event of Bellator 255 to advance to the finals of the Bellator World Featherweight Grand Prix. The Brazilian is the reigning and defending Bellator featherweight champion — not to mention the Bellator lightweight champion — and he will put his belt on the line once again in the finals against McKee, the top prospect who is the son of former UFC fighter Antonio McKee. The younger McKee looked absolutely sensational on his way to the finals and the undefeated fighter is arguably Pitbull’s toughest test to date. This should be an incredible finale at 145lbs.
Leon Edwards reacts after booking fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 262
Adam D Martin - April 4, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards reacted after the promotion booked his five-round, co-main event fight against Nate Diaz at UFC 262. The UFC announced this week that Edwards vs. Diaz will take place on May 15 in Houston, Texas. In a UFC first, the fight will be a five-round co-main event, with the winner surely being in the mix to fight the winner of the UFC 261 main event between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman. With Edwards vs. Diaz now official, “Rocky” took to his social media over the last couple of days to share his initial reactions to what is arguably the biggest fight of his career to date. Take a look at what Edwards has been sharing lately on his Instagram.
Tito Ortiz shares interesting theory on how a fight with Jon Jones would have played out during his prime
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Tito Ortiz shared an interesting answer when asked how a fight with Jon Jones would have played out with both men in their primes. During a recent interview with Jerry Coughlan, ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ touched on a number of different topics, including some advice that he shared with Conor McGregor.
Henry Cejudo roasts "Oscar winner" Aljamain Sterling following recent jab
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Henry Cejudo did not hold back on Aljamain Sterling after the current UFC bantamweight champion took a shot at him on social media. Sterling had recently commented on a photo shared by Cejudo, where he insinuated that the “ex-champ” had something in his teeth.
Colby Covington questions the UFC's decision to "reward" Jorge Masvidal with a title shot: "He ran from me for 6 months and was scared to fight me"
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Colby Covington can’t wrap his head around the UFC’s decision to give Jorge Masvidal another welterweight title shot against Kamaru Usman. Masvidal (35-14 MMA) and Usman (18-1 MMA) originally collided at UFC 251 in July of 2020. That evening in Las Vegas, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ earned a dominant decision victory over ‘Gamebred’ to retain his welterweight world title.
Photo | Marvin Vettori is absolutely shredded for his UFC on ABC 2 fight with Kevin Holland
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Perennial middleweight contender Marvin Vettori is looking absolutely shredded ahead of his UFC on ABC 2 fight with Kevin Holland. Vettori (16-4-1 MMA) and Holland (21-6 MMA) are set to square off in the headliner of next weekend’s UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas.
Tito Ortiz reveals the advice he shared with Conor McGregor when they first met
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz revealed that he shared some advice with Conor McGregor following the Irishman’s loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017. McGregor (22-5 MMA, 0-1 Boxing) squared off with Mayweather (50-0 Boxing) 3.5 years ago in Las Vegas, where suffered a tenth-round TKO loss in his professional boxing debut.
Jorge Masvidal responds after Ben Askren claims he made him famous with "lucky" knee at UFC 239
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Jorge Masvidal has responded to Ben Askren’s recent claims that he “made him famous” with his “lucky” knee in their fight at UFC 239. Masvidal and Askren had previously squared off in a highly anticipated welterweight bout on July 6 in 2019.
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier react after trilogy is made official for UFC 264
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have shared their respective reactions after their trilogy bout was made official for UFC 264. Poirier and McGregor are set to have their rubber match at 155-pounds on July 10, likely in Las Vegas. The pair split their first two encounters, with Conor earning a first round knockout at UFC 178, and then Dustin most recently earning a second round KO victory at UFC 257.
UFC adds two massive fights to June lineup including The Korean Zombie vs. Dan Ige
Chris Taylor - April 3, 2021
The UFC has added two huge fights to their upcoming June lineup, including a featherweight bout between The Korean Zombie and Dan Ige. Ige (15-3 MMA) had called out Chan Sung Jung immediately following his sensational first-round knockout victory over Gavin Tucker at UFC Vegas 21.
Video | Jon Jones changes up his training style, tells fight fans to "be ready for something different in this next fight"
Christopher Taylor - April 2, 2021
Despite struggling in his recent negotiations with the UFC, Jon Jones is still clearly focused on fighting Francis Ngannou for the heavyweight title next. The UFC’s longtime light heavyweight kingpin, Jones (26-1 MMA), vacated the promotions 205lbs title back in 2020, this in order to make a run at heavyweight.
Triller announces official lineup for Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren fight card
Chris Taylor - April 2, 2021
Triller has announced the official lineup for this month’s Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul, a YouTube star turned boxer, and Askren, a former MMA champion, are slated to meet in an eight-round pro boxing match on April 17.
UFC 264 adds dynamic welterweight bout between former title challengers Stephen Thompson and Gilbert Burns
Chris Taylor - April 2, 2021
A huge welterweight bout has been added to UFC 264, as ESPN is reporting that former title challengers Stephen Thompson and Gilbert Burns will collide on July 10. Thompson (16-4-1 MMA) is coming off of back-to-back unanimous decision victories over perennial division contenders Geoff Neal and Vicente Luque in his most recent Octagon appearances. ‘Wonderboy’ has gone 3-3 over his past six fight overall.
Patricio Pitbull submits Emmanuel Sanchez in Round 1 at Bellator 255 (Highlights)
Cole Shelton - April 2, 2021
In the main event of Bellator 255, Patricio Pitbull and Emmanuel Sanchez were set for a rematch three years in the making. The fight also served as the semifinals of the featherweight grand prix. Patricio Pitbull (31-4) is riding a six-fight winning streak and coming off a vicious KO win over Pedro Carvalho last November. Before that, he beat Juan Archuleta by decision and knocked out Michael Chandler in 61 seconds to claim the lightweight title and become a champ-champ. He also beat Sanchez back in November of 2018.
Anthony Johnson shares prediction for potential Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight
Chris Taylor - April 2, 2021
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Johnson has shared his thoughts on a potential heavyweight bout between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. Ever since Ngannou (16-3 MMA) dethroned Stipe Miocic to become “The Baddest Man on the Planet” at UFC 260, all the talk has been of a potential super-fight with Jones.
Video | Dustin Poirier grapples with 4x World's Strongest Man Brian Shaw
Chris Taylor - April 2, 2021
Dustin Poirier is doing some training with 4x World’s Strongest Man Brian Shaw ahead of his trilogy fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 264. Poirier and McGregor are set to have their rubber match at 155-pounds on July 10 in Las Vegas. The pair split their first two encounters, with Conor earning a first round knockout at UFC 178, and then Dustin most recently earning a second round KO victory at UFC 257.