MMA News
Dana White previews the next decade for the UFC
Harry Kettle - January 3, 2020
A brand new year and a brand new decade has begun for us all, and given the manner in which Dana White and the UFC are about to start the year, it’s understandable that there’s quite a bit of excitement in the air amongst fans and media members alike. A whole host of stars including Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Khabib Nurmagomedov & Joanna Jędrzejczyk are already booked to compete between now and April, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
ONE Championship announces new strategic partnerships with leading global brands in 2020
Tom Taylor - January 3, 2020
ONE Championship has announced new strategic partnerships with a number of major brands. The Singapore-based martial arts organization announced this news in a Wednesday press release. Per the press release:
Conor McGregor responds after Donald Cerrone's coach suggests "He just has a left hand"
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon at UFC 246 for a welterweight bout with Donald Cerrone. UFC 246 takes place January 18 live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
USADA refutes report that Paulo Costa is the most drug tested fighter in UFC
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2020
According to a recent report from Yahoo Esportes, top ranked UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa was the most drug tested fighter by USADA in the 2019 calendar year. The Brazilian knockout artist, Costa, was very happy with this news and even took to Instagram to celebrate the moral victory with the following announcement.
Justin Gaethje reveals the fights he’s turned down, says Ferguson declined UFC 242 scrap
Cole Shelton - January 2, 2020
Justin Gaethje has revealed which fights he has turned down during his time with the UFC. Promotional president, Dana White recently said Gaethje kept turning down fights and in turn, Conor McGregor could potentially get the next title shot.
Conor McGregor on standby in case of injury to Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson
Adam Martin - January 2, 2020
UFC president Dana White has confirmed Conor McGregor is on standby in case of an injury to UFC 249 headliners Khabib Nurmagomedov or Tony Ferguson. This is the fifth time that Nurmagomedov and Ferguson have been booked to fight each other after the four previous bookings were canceled due to injuries. This time around the UFC has a fighter on standby just in case sometime happens, and it’s McGregor.
UFC President Dana White explains what he'll remember most from 2019
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2020
2019 proved to be a massive year for the UFC and promotional President Dana White could not be happier. White recently sat down with the promotions official website UFC.com where he was asked what he will remember most from the 2019 calendar year.
Dana White explains what makes Conor McGregor such a big star
Cole Shelton - January 2, 2020
Conor McGregor is the biggest star in MMA and one of the biggest stars in combat sports. The Irishman brought the sport into the mainstream by his trash-talking and his ability to finish opponents. But, according to UFC president, Dana White, he says what makes McGregor such a big star is his personality. He says the Irishman has the ‘it’ factor and when he fights it is such a big deal.
Dana White explains why Amanda Nunes is the GOAT of women's MMA
Adam Martin - January 2, 2020
UFC president Dana White explained why UFC women’s double champion Amanda Nunes is the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. Taking it one step further, White says that Nunes belongs on the shortlist of MMA GOATs regardless of gender. Speaking to UFC.com in a recent interview, White offered up lavish praise to Nunes, the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion. Here’s what the UFC boss man said.
Dana White regrets not booking Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Adam Martin - January 2, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that his biggest matchmaking regret is never booking a heavyweight fight between Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko. Lesnar and Emelianenko were arguably the two biggest superstars in the sport at the beginning of the 2010s. At the time, Lesnar was the UFC heavyweight champion, while Emelianenko had dominated the competition in PRIDE and was a new member of the Strikeforce roster.
David Michaud says starting pay in PFL is same as UFC
Adam Martin - January 2, 2020
PFL welterweight contender David Michaud says that the starting pay in PFL is about the same as it would be for a newcomer to the UFC. Michaud just fought Ray Cooper III at PFL 2019 Championship and was knocked out in the second round to lose his chance to win $1 million. It ended a nice run for Michaud in his first year in PFL, snapping a three-fight win streak over Glaico Franca, John Howard, and Handesson Ferreira.
UFC Norfolk: 'Benavidez vs Figueiredo' Fight Card and Rumors
Natasha Hooper - January 2, 2020
Henry Cejudo claimed the nickname “Triple C” after becoming a two-division champion of the flyweight and bantamweight division, but last month, it was announced that the Olympic wrestler had released his flyweight belt, leaving top-ranked fighters Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo to battle for the 125-pound strap in 2020. Their fight for the vacant flyweight title will headline the UFC Norfolk event on February 29. It will be only the second event held by the UFC in Norfolk. The first was UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Pettis in November 2017.
Eddie Hearn wants DAZN to more than double monthly price
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
The sports streaming service DAZN is now home to Bellator MMA, Combate Americas, and boxing action featuring superstars like Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua. Fans can access all of that combat sports content for $19.99 a month, or $99.99 for an annual membership. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn would like to see that rate increase — by a lot. Hearn, who promotes Anthony Joshua, has witnessed DAZN’s recent growth, and believes the service is becoming a must-have for fight fans, particularly those that follow boxing.
Donald Cerrone coach downplays Conor McGregor's skills: 'He just has a left hand'
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
Jafari Vanier, the head coach behind Donald Cerrone, doesn’t view Conor McGregor as a particularly versatile fighter. The coach gave his take on McGregor, who Cerrone will fight in the main event of UFC 246 on January 18, in in Cerrone’s documentary ‘More than a Cowboy.’
The Korean Zombie reveals four exciting options for his next fight
Adam Martin - January 2, 2020
The Korean Zombie wants a title shot against new UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski next, but he has three other opponents in mind as well. The Korean Zombie recently knocked out Frankie Edgar in the first round at UFC Busan, upping his record to 3-1 since returning to MMA in 2017 after a four-year mandatory military service layoff. He also has knockout wins over Renato Moicano and Dennis Bermudez and a KO loss to Yair Rodriguez since his return.
Chael Sonnen 'very confident' Georges St-Pierre will fight in 2020
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
Chael Sonnen has a hunch that Georges St-Pierre will fight again in 2020. St-Pierre, a former two-division UFC champion, is currently retired, but Sonnen doubts that retirement will stick.
Chael Sonnen argues Jorge Masvidal is '100%' legitimate champion
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
Back in November, Jorge Masvidal captured the UFC’s one-off BMF belt with a win over Nate Diaz. While this BMF belt win represented a nice feather in Masvidal’s cap, it was not considered by many fans as a legitimate championship accomplishment. Chael Sonnen begs to differ. Sonnen, an analyst for both the UFC and Bellator, believes Masvidal is an absolutely legitimate MMA champion — even if that fact bothers people. Sonnen points to Conor McGregor’s interest in a BMF title fight with Masvidal as proof of this reality.
Joe Rogan praises Conor McGregor for 'El Chapo' tribute
Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020
Conor McGregor has always been known for his bold fashion choices. Perhaps the best example of this was in 2016 when, ahead of a scheduled lightweight title fight with Rafael dos Anjos, the Irishman donned the attire of infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquín Guzmán, better know as “El Chapo.” Speaking on on a recent episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, UFC commentator Joe Rogan looked back on this fabled Conor McGregor moment. He could not contain his enjoyment of it.