MMA News
Kevin Holland promises to step it up against Marvin Vettori at UFC on ABC 2
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland is promising to step it up against divisional rival Marvin Vettori next weekend at UFC on ABC 2. Holland is filling in on short notice for the injured Darren Till, who withdrew from the fight due to a broken collarbone. He’s a big underdog at the sportsbooks right now, and it makes sense given his poor showing against Derek Brunson last month. Though Holland was favored to defeat Brunson at the sportsbooks, he lost that fight via unanimous decision when he was unable to stop the takedowns and got planted on his back for five rounds. In addition to being outwrestled, Holland showed no sense of urgency at any time throughout that fight, and he seemed to be more focused on talking rather than actually fighting.
Aleksandar Rakic believes Jon Jones should get paid more money to fight Francis Ngannou
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
UFC light heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic believes that former divisional rival Jon Jones should get paid more money to fight Francis Ngannou. Rakic, one of the best fighters in the UFC at 205lbs currently, is coming off of a decision win over Thiago Santos in his last fight, and he is widely expected to be just one or two fights away now from taking on UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Jones, of course, was the kingpin of the UFC’s 205lbs division for the last decade, but he is planning on moving up to heavyweight this summer. The plan was for him to fight Ngannou in a mega-fight, but Jones is currently involved in a public financial despite with the UFC.
Colby Covington says he will be the unofficial backup for UFC 261, plans to be in attendance
Cole Shelton - April 2, 2021
Colby Covington says he will be in attendance for UFC 261 which sees Kamaru Usman defend his welterweight title against Jorge Masvidal. For months now, the talk was Covington would face Masvidal and the two would coach The Ultimate Fighter. Yet, with the UFC having a full capacity crowd in Jacksonville, the promotion decided to book the rematch with left Covington on the outside looking in.
Jan Blachowicz open to fighting Francis Ngannou at heavyweight
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz says he is open to moving up to heavyweight and taking on champion Francis Ngannou. Blachowicz is coming off of his first successful title defense of the UFC’s 205lbs title when he defeated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision at UFC 259. For his next fight, Blachowicz is expected to take on No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira. Having said that, Blachowicz is open to taking on another challenge if the UFC wants him to. Should Jon Jones not take the fight with Ngannou, then Blachowicz is open to taking it.
Jon Jones reaffirms UFC release request, wants to be the face of another promotion
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones reaffirms his release request, saying he wants to be the face of another promotion. Jones is currently involved in a very public contractual battle with UFC president Dana White over how much he will get paid to fight Francis Ngannou. Jones this week said that he turned down the UFC’s initial offer of $8 to $10 million, saying that would be “way too low” for a fight of this magnitude. He then took to his social media to request he would be released from the UFC. Speaking on the “Steve-O’s Wild Ride!” podcast,” Jones once again reaffirmed his desire to be released and explained why he wants to find a new home.
Women's flyweight prospect Erin Blanchfield issues statement after signing with the UFC
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
Women’s flyweight prospect Erin Blanchfield has issued a statement after signing with the UFC and having her fight booked on short notice. Blanchfield is just 21 years old and she has already racked up a 6-1 record in mixed martial arts since making her professional debut in 2018. After starting off her MMA career with a TKO win in CFFC, Blanchfield was quickly scooped up by the all-women MMA promotion Invicta FC and she picked up two wins, including a majority decision victory over current UFC fighter Kay Hansen. After dropping a controversial split decision loss to Tracy Cortez, another current UFC fighter, Blanchfield returned to CFFC and picked up another stoppage win, before re-joining Invicta FC and picking up two more victories in that organization.
Scott Coker says Bellator talking to Megan Anderson
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
Bellator president Scott Coker says that his promotion is currently in talks with former UFC featherweight title challenger Megan Anderson. Anderson was recently released by the UFC following the expiration of her contract in the wake of a first-round submission loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 259. Despite losing that fight and becoming a free agent, Anderson is still a big name in the world of the women’s featherweight division. With Bellator having Cris Cyborg as the champion and a slew of other 145lbs women fighters including Julia Budd and Cat Zingano, it makes sense that the promotion would reach out to Anderson about the possibility of joining Bellator.
Eddie Alvarez believes winning ONE belt would make him the greatest lightweight ever
Adam D Martin - April 2, 2021
Former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez believes that winning the ONE championship belt would make him the greatest lightweight ever. Alvarez returns to the cage next week at ONE on TNT 1 when he takes on Iuri Lapicus, with the winner next in line to fight for the ONE lightweight title. Alvarez, of course, is also the former UFC lightweight champion and the former Bellator lightweight champion, so winning a third belt in a major organization would make give him the rare “triple crown” in MMA.
Colby Covington calls Jake Paul 'an embarrassment to society,' predicts Ben Askren to beat him
Drake Riggs - April 1, 2021
Colby Covington and Ben Askren have never been too fond of each other. But when it comes to Jake Paul and the current welterweight title picture, they can put their differences aside. Set to make his pro boxing debut against Paul in two weeks on April 17, Askren is continually gaining support and belief in his abilities from his MMA peers. Surely to the surprise of many, that includes the lone-wolf in Covington.
Khetag Pliev loses his finger mid-fight at CFFC 94
Drake Riggs - April 1, 2021
It may be April’s Fools Day… but this is no joke. At CFFC 94, Canadian prospect Khetag Pliev literally lost his finger. Taking on Devin Goodale in a 175-pound catchweight contest, Goodale would end up handing Pliev just the second loss of his seven-fight career. The method of victory came officially as a second-round TKO for Goodale as the action was stopped between rounds… because mid-fight Pliev would end up having his left ring finger detached from his body.
Anderson Silva opens as a sizeable underdog in boxing match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2021
Anderson Silva is the betting underdog in his upcoming boxing match against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this summer. On June 19, at the Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Silva will have his first fight since being released from the UFC in the ring. It’s a very intriguing matchup as the Brazilian is known for his boxing but Chavez Jr. is a former boxing world champion, and to no surprise is the betting favorite.
Scott Coker very interested in signing Alistair Overeem or Junior dos Santos to fight Fedor Emelianenko
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2021
Scott Coker likes the idea of signing Alistair Overeem or Junior dos Santos to fight Fedor Emelianenko. After Emelinaneko beat Rampage Jackson in December of 2019, the plan was to have his farewell tour be in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the Russian didn’t get a chance to fight, but according to Scott Coker, he says the MMA legend will fight sometime in the next couple of months,
Kevin Holland claims Marvin Vettori doesn't want to fight him at UFC on ABC 2
Adam D Martin - April 1, 2021
UFC middleweight Kevin Holland claims that Marvin Vettori doesn’t want to fight him next weekend in the main event of UFC on ABC 2. Vettori was supposed to fight Darren Till in the main event of next weekend’s card, but Till was forced to pull out of the fight due to a broken collarbone. That leaves Vettori without an opponent for the time being, but Holland was the first man to throw his name in the hat. Just a few weeks removed from a main event loss to Derek Brunson, Holland wants to get back in the Octagon and is willing to fight Vettori on short notice in order to do so.
Khabib Nurmagomedov shares his honest thoughts about Dana White: "Sometimes he is nice, sometimes he is not nice"
Adam D Martin - April 1, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov shares his honest thoughts about UFC president Dana White, saying that “sometimes he is nice, sometimes he is not nice.” “The Eagle” recently announced his retirement from MMA and he vacated his UFC lightweight title in order to step away from the sport. Though Nurmagomedov had first mentioned talks of retirement last October, White tried to convince him for six months to fight again. Alas, Nurmagomedov decided that he had already accomplished everything he wanted to in the sport, and he decided to step away from MMA with a 29-0 record.
Mike Hamel expects to derail the hype of Usman Nurmagomedov: "I'm going to clip him"
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2021
Mike Hamel had a feeling he’d be the one to welcome Usman Nurmagomedov to Bellator. When Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s cousin, signed with Bellator, Hamel started researching the 11-0 fighter. After spending some time looking into him, he started telling his coaches and teammates he will end up fighting. Then, weeks later, Hamel got offered to fight Nurmagomedov at Bellator 255, which is exciting for him.
TJ Dillashaw says Cory Sandhagen has been acting like a "douche"
Adam D Martin - April 1, 2021
UFC bantamweight star TJ Dillashaw says that his former training partner Cory Sandhagen has been acting like a “douche” lately. Dillashaw hasn’t fought since January 2019 when he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Henry Cejudo at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in a failed attempt to win the UFC flyweight title. Following that fight, Dillashaw tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He gave up his belt not long afterwards and was then suspended for two years by USADA. After serving his two year-suspension, Dillashaw is now finally returning to return to the Octagon and he will do so on May 8 when he meets Sandhagen in the main event. The winner of this fight is expected to earn a title shot in the stacked UFC bantamweight division.
Patricio Pitbull says he "would embarrass" Alex Volkanovski if they fought: "It would be a massacre"
Cole Shelton - April 1, 2021
Patricio Pitbull has made it known, he wants a cross-promotional fight against Alex Volkanovski. Pitbull is the current featherweight and lightweight champion in Bellator while Volkanovski holds UFC gold at featherweight. Both men have taken shots at one another on social media, and Pitbull has called for the fight to happen. Yet, he doesn’t believe it will happen.
Eddie Alvarez responds after Iuri Lapicus threatens to end his career at ONE on TNT 1
Harry Kettle - April 1, 2021
Eddie Alvarez has laughed off claims from Iuri Lapicus that the youngster will “end his career” when they clash at ONE on TNT 1. The two men will meet in a lightweight showdown on April 7 with the winner, more than likely, getting a title shot against Christian Lee – even though Lapicus’ last fight was a defeat at the hands of Lee back in October.