MMA News
Leon Edwards releases statement after No Contest at UFC Vegas 21
Harry Kettle - March 15, 2021
UFC welterweight Leon Edwards released a statement after his main event against Belal Muhammad ended in a No Contest due to an accidental eye poke. “Rocky” went toe to toe with Muhammad on Saturday night in an exciting fight at UFC Vegas 21. Edwards, despite being out of the Octagon for almost two years, was clearly the favorite in a bout that saw Muhammad come in with very little pressure on his shoulders.
Colby Covington explains what it takes for him to accept fight with Leon Edwards
Adam D Martin - March 15, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington explained what it would take for him to accept a fight against divisional rival Leon Edwards. Edwards recently returned from a 20-month layoff when he took on Belal Muhammad in the main event of this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 21 card. However, the fight ended in disappointing fashion early in the second round after Edwards accidentally poked Muhammad in the eye and he couldn’t continue to fight. In the wake of the No Contest, Edwards has said that he wants a title shot next. But with champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal set to rematch this fall, it seems likely that Edwards will have to fight again.
Petr Yan fires back at Eryk Anders for his use of an illegal knee at UFC Vegas 21
Christopher Taylor - March 14, 2021
Petr Yan could not resist the opportunity to get a shot in at middleweight fighter Eryk Anders following UFC Vegas 21. Anders (13-5 MMA) was one of many fighters to weigh in after Yan lost his title to Aljamain Sterling by way of disqualification at UFC 259. The now former bantamweight champion had landed a knee to the face of ‘Funkmaster’, while he was grounded, which caused an unfortunate end to the fight.
Jon Jones taunts haters by suggesting that steroids are turning him into “quite the shooter”
Adam Martin - March 14, 2021
In a since-deleted Tweet, UFC superstar Jon Jones taunted his haters by suggesting that steroids are turning him into “quite the shooter.” Jones will be making his UFC heavyweight debut later this year and he has spent the last year or so bulking up in preparation for the move. In addition to lifting weights and training, another one of Jones’s hobbies is shooting. On Sunday, he posted a video on Instagram of him getting some target practise in, and Jones was right on the money.
Misha Cirkunov issues statement following KO loss to Ryan Spann at UFC Vegas 21
Adam Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Misha Cirkunov issued a statement following his first-round knockout loss to Ryan Spann at UFC Vegas 21. Cirkunov was caught early in the first round by Spann’s strikes on the feet and he was soon finished off with ground and pound. The No. 11 ranked light heavyweight in the UFC, Cirkunov was fighting for the first time since September 2019 against Spann, the No. 13 ranked light heavyweight. The oddsmakers pegged Cirkunov and his incredible BJJ skills as the betting favorite in this bout, but Spann pulled off the mini upset with the quick KO.
Aljamain Sterling didn't want to celebrate at UFC 259 post-fight party, says guest Billy Quarantillo
Adam Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC featherweight Billy Quarantillo, who was a guest, says that Aljamain Sterling didn’t want to celebrate at his UFC 259 post-fight party. Sterling has been the talk of the MMA community ever since last weekend’s UFC 259 card, where he won the UFC bantamweight title via DQ against Petr Yan. It was a controversial moment as this marked the first time in UFC history that a fighter has won a belt via DQ. It was even more controversial because there were many fans and even fellow fighters who thought Sterling hammed up the knee to get the win. When photos of Sterling emerged following the fight with him wearing his belt, it gave even more ammunition to those who were against “Funk Master,” particularly after Yan called Sterling a “clown” for the photos.
Belal Muhammad calls Leon Edwards "soft" for wanting title shot after No Contest at UFC Vegas 21
Adam Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad called Leon Edwards “soft” for a wanting title shot after their No Contest in the main event of UFC Vegas 21. Muhammad and Edwards had just started the second round when Muhammad received a nasty eye poke that left him unable to see. The doctor and referee Herb Dean deemed Muhammad unable to continue fighting and Dean declared the fight a No Contest due to an accidental eye poke. While some have called for the UFC to run the fight back, Edwards himself thinks that he is ready to move on and fighting for the UFC welterweight title.
WWE’s Big E explains how Aljamain Sterling can embrace “babyface role” following UFC 259
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
WWE superstar Big E explained how UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling can embrace a “babyface role” following his fight at UFC 259. Sterling won the UFC’s 135lbs belt last weekend at UFC 259 with a DQ win over Petr Yan. Since winning the belt, it feels like Sterling has made somewhat of a “heel turn” after taking photos with the belt, calling for a fight with Henry Cejudo, and not asking Matt Serra to corner him. However, according to WWE superstar Big E, the heel route is not one that Sterling should go down. Speaking to “The A-Side,” Big E said that Sterling should instead go play the “babyface role” and he explained why he thinks that should be the case.
Main card lineup released for UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
The main card lineup has been released for the upcoming UFC 260 pay-per-view, featuring the rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. UFC 260 takes place in less than two weeks as the card is set for March 27 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event features the rematch for the UFC heavyweight title between the champion Miocic and the challenger Ngannou. These two previously met back in January 2018 at UFC 220, with Miocic winning a unanimous decision that night in an upset. The champ is once again the underdog this time around as Ngannou rides a long knockout streak into this fight. It should be a great title fight regardless of who wins it.
Eryk Anders issues apology to Darren Stewart following "critical error" at UFC Vegas 21
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC middleweight Eryk Anders issued an apology to Darren Stewart following the “critical error” he made in their fight at UFC Vegas 21. Anders and Stewart met on the UFC Vegas 21 main card in a fight between two big middleweights. Although Stewart was the betting favorite heading into the fight, Anders looked like he was the better fighter as long as the fight lasted, as he was hurting Stewart with strikes up against the cage. It appeared as though referee Here Dean was close to stopping the fight as Anders rained down strikes on his hurt opponent, but then “Ya Boi” made the grave error of landing an illegal knee to a downed opponent. Stewart couldn’t continue and the fight was ruled a No Contest, with Dean ruling the knee was accidental.
Aljamain Sterling calls for "new gloves" following last night’s Edwards vs. Muhammad result
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling called for “new gloves” following last night’s Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad No Contest result. Edwards landed an accidental eye poke at the beginning of the second round that left Muhammad unable to see, resulting in the fight being called off. It was yet another unfortunate eye poke in MMA that led to a great fight being ruined, and it’s the kind of result that has reignited calls for new gloves to be introduced into mixed martial arts, and it led to a number of fighters including Sterling taking to their social media to vent.
Marcelo Rojo shares grisly photo following war with Charles Jourdain, reacts to being snubbed of FOTN bonus
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC featherweight Marcelo Rojo shared a grisly photo following his war with Charles Jourdain, plus reacted to being snubbed of a FOTN bonus. Rojo took the fight with Jourdain on short notice, moving up a weight class from his regular 135lbs division to take on the talented Canadian “Air” on the UFC Vegas 21 preliminary card. The fight was an absolute war, as both men kept pushing forward with bad intentions and landing effective strikes throughout the contest. However, after two close first rounds, Jourdain saw an opportunity to finish the fight in the third, and he kept pouring it on until the referee mercifully stopped it with less than 30 seconds left to go on the clock. It was an absolute dogfight between two men who badly wanted to get their hand raised in the fight.
Leon Edwards believes “a title shot should be next” despite no-contest ruling at UFC Vegas 21
Adam D Martin - March 14, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards believes that “a title shot should be next” for him despite a no-contest ruling at UFC Vegas 21. Edwards and Muhammad were just beginning the second round of their UFC Vegas 21 main event when “Rocky” made the ill-timed mistake of poking Muhammad in the eye. After the cage-side doctor waved the fight off due to an eye injury, referee Herb Dean called a stop to the contest due to a No Contest (accidental eye poke). But despite not actually winning the fight, Edwards says that he should be fighting for the UFC welterweight title next.
Belal Muhammad issues statement, provides update on eye following UFC Vegas 21
Christopher Taylor - March 13, 2021
Belal Muhammad has issued a statement while providing an update on his injured eye following tonight’s UFC Vegas 21 main event with Leon Edwards. Muhammad (18-3 MMA) was looking to play spoiler as a sizeable betting underdog this evening in Sin City. The Chicago native had entered tonight’s UFC Vegas 21 main event riding a four-fight winning streak, his latest being a unanimous decision victory over Dhiego Lima at UFC 258.
Leon Edwards explains why he's not interested in a UFC rematch with Belal Muhammad: "The writing was on the wall"
Christopher Taylor - March 13, 2021
Perennial UFC welterweight contender Leon Edwards made his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this evening for a fight with Belal Muhammad. Edwards (18-3 MMA) was competing for the first time since July of 2019, where he had defeated Rafael dos Anjos by decision. The Birmingham native had entered tonight’s headliner sporting an impressive eight-fight win streak.
UFC Vegas 21 Bonus Report: Dan Ige pockets $50k for nasty KO
Chris Taylor - March 13, 2021
The Octagon remained in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 21 event, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad. The highly anticipated welterweight fight did not result in the definitive outcome that most fans were hoping for. Instead, after a strong first round, Leon Edwards wound up landing a nasty accidental eye poke on Belal Muhammad which forced a premature end to their fight.
UFC Vegas 21 Result: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad ruled a no-contest
Chris Taylor - March 13, 2021
A key welterweight bout between perennial division contenders Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad headlines tonight’s UFC Vegas 21 event. Edwards (18-3 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since July of 2019, when he defeated Rafael dos Anjos by decision. That victory had marked the Birmingham natives eighth in a row and propelled him to the top of the promotions welterweight rankings.
Pros react after Ryan Spann KO's Misha Cirkunov at UFC Vegas 21
Chris Taylor - March 13, 2021
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 21 event was co-headlined by a light heavyweight bout between ranked division contenders Misha Cirkunov and Ryan Spann. Cirkunov (15-6 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since September of 2019, where he had earned a first round submission victory over Jimmy Crute. The Canadian had gone just 2-3 over his past five Octagon appearance overall, suffering losses to Volkan Oezdemir, Glover Teixeira and Johnny Walker during that span.