MMA News
Aljamain Sterling "wouldn't be opposed" if UFC didn't do Petr Yan rematch next
Cole Shelton - March 8, 2021
Aljamain Sterling wouldn’t care if the UFC decides not to book a rematch between him and Petr Yan next. In the first of three title fights at UFC 259, Yan was looking to defend his belt against Sterling. Early on, Yan dropped the challenger and was stuffing the takedowns and as the fight wore on, he was starting to pick the Russian apart. However, in the fourth round, Yan threw an illegal knee which ended the fight and he was DQ’d and Sterling became the new champion.
Daniel Cormier still believes Jon Jones is the best light heavyweight alive
Cole Shelton - March 8, 2021
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones is still the best light heavyweight in the world. After Jan Blachowicz defeated Israel Adesanya to defend his light heavyweight title for the first time, many wondered how he would do against Jon Jones. After the Pole won the vacant belt, he told BJPENN.com that Jones went up to heavyweight because of him. However, according to Cormier, the former UFC champ-champ says “Bones” is still the best light heavyweight.
Julianna Pena calls for title fight with Amanda Nunes
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Julianna Pena is setting her sights on a title shot against Amanda Nunes. Nunes currently rules over the UFC bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She returned to the Octagon at UFC 259 last Saturday, defending the former title with a blowout, first-round submission victory over Megan Anderson.
Henry Cejudo proclaims "Triple C is coming back"
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021
From the sounds of it, Henry Cejudo plans on ending his retirement from mixed martial arts competition. Cejudo, a former Olympic gold medalist and two-division UFC champion, announced his retirement from MMA in May of 2020, after defending the UFC bantamweight title with a TKO victory over Dominick Cruz. Contrary to that retirement announcement, he’s been teasing a comeback ever since, and that comeback suddenly seems to be closer than ever to reality.
Paige VanZant knows date and opponent for next fight but "can't say yet"
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021
Former UFC star Paige VanZant says she knows the date and opponent for her next fight, but is unable to reveal the details just yet. VanZant parted ways with the UFC in summer of 2020, and promptly signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren PPV price, location revealed
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021
The pay-per-view price and location for the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match have finally been revealed. Paul and Askren will meet in an eight-round boxing match on April 17. While the date of this controversial contest has been known for some time, its location and price tag were a mystery until Monday, when the fight’s promoter, Triller, revealed those details in a press release.
What's next for the stars of UFC 259?
Cole Shelton - March 8, 2021
On the stacked UFC 259 card, three title fights headlined the event with one title changing hands although it being controversial. In the main event, Jan Blachowicz edged out a decision over middleweight champ, Israel Adesanya to defend his light heavyweight title. The co-main event saw Amanda Nunes submit Megan Anderson to defend her featherweight. In the first of three title fights, Aljamain Sterling became the new bantamweight champion after Petr Yan threw an illegal knee and was disqualified.
Dan Hooker finally reunites with family 56 days after UFC 257 (video)
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has finally reunited with his family after 56 days on the road. Hooker, a native of New Zealand, last fought at UFC 257 in January in Las Vegas, where he succumbed to a tough knockout loss at the hands of Michael Chandler. Because of current international travel restrictions—particularly those of New Zealand—Hooker was then forced to undergo multiple quarantines before returning home and reuniting with his family.
Valeriu Mircea opens up on journey from Moldova to Italy, loss of his brother
Alfredo Zullino - March 8, 2021
Every person has a story. Some stories, though, are deeper than others and need to be told, like that of mixed martial artist Valeriu Mircea. Mircea has born in 1993 in Satul Topala, a 2000-person rural village in Moldova, situated in the district of Cimișlia. His family was not wealthy, to put it mildly. His mother, though, did everything she could to give her sons what they needed.
Ali Abdelaziz sheds some light on Dominick Cruz’s callout of Monster Energy’s Hans Molenkamp
Harry Kettle - March 8, 2021
MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz has decided to shed some more light on Dominick Cruz’s recent callout of Monster Energy’s Hans Molenkamp. After Cruz’s win over Casey Kenney at UFC 259 this past weekend, he decided to call out Monster’s Molenkamp for a charity fight. Cruz listed a string of things he didn’t like about the executive in one of the most bizarre post-fight callouts in recent memory.
Tim Elliott and Jordan Espinosa's team address “woman beater” accusations from UFC 259
Harry Kettle - March 8, 2021
Jordan Espinosa’s team and Tim Elliott have both addressed the mid-fight argument they seemed to have during their UFC 259 bout. In their contest, which Elliott won via decision, there was an exchange on the ground that the microphones seemed to pick up, with the following being the apparent transcript.
Dana White reacts to "insane" judges scorecards from Saturday's UFC 259 main event
Christopher Taylor - March 7, 2021
Dana White was not happy with the judges scoring in last night’s UFC 259 main event between Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya (20-1 MMA) moved up a weight class yesterday evening to challenge Blachowicz for the promotions coveted light heavyweight title. ‘Stylebender’ had entered the contest sporting a perfect professional record, his most previous win coming over Paulo Costa by way of TKO at UFC 253.
Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling renew UFC 259 battle on social media
Adam Martin - March 7, 2021
New UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling and former champ Petr Yan renewed their UFC 259 battle on social media the day after their fight. Sterling and Yan had an incredible fight at UFC 259, one of three title fights on the card. Both men had their moments in the fight, but it appeared as though Yan was pulling away late when he made a huge error and illegally kneed Sterling in the head while he was a downed opponent. Referee Mark Smith deemed the foul intentional and was forced to wave off the fight on the advice of the cage-side doctor, who said Sterling couldn’t continue. Yan then became the first fighter in UFC history to lose his belt via DQ (disqualification).
Jan Blachowicz opens as a rare betting favorite over Glover Teixiera
Adam Martin - March 7, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz opened up as a rare betting favorite for his upcoming title defense against Glover Teixeira. Blachowicz defended the 205lbs strap for the first time with a unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 259. Blachowicz was the underdog for the Adesanya fight, the 13th time in the UFC that he has been an underdog, and the ninth time he has won a fight as an underdog. It’s been an incredible run for Blachowicz in recent years, having won nine of his last 10 fights overall, and after beating Adesanya, it sets the Pole up with an upcoming title defense against Teixeira sometime later this year.
Betting odds released for rematch between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling
Adam Martin - March 7, 2021
Petr Yan opened up as the clear betting favorite for a potential rematch later this year against UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Sterling and Yan put on a great fight for as long as it lasted, with both men having success throughout the first three rounds, and the fight was a tossup on the judges’ scorecards at that point. However, the fourth round saw Yan really start to take over and begin to hurt Sterling. He then made one of the worst decisions in a UFC fight ever when he kneed Sterling in the head while he was a downed opponent. Sterling defeated Yan via DQ after the Russian kneed him in the head illegally and the fight was called off by the referee.
Video | Aljamain Sterling squares off with Henry Cejudo, tells Dana White “we can do this fight next”
Christopher Taylor - March 7, 2021
Newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is interested in fighting Henry Cejudo in his first attempt at a title defense. Sterling captured the promotions 135lbs title in controversial fashion yesterday evening at UFC 259, emerging victorious over Petr Yan due to a disqualification from an illegal knee in the fourth round.
Henry Cejudo breaks down Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan, apologizes to ‘Funkmaster’
Christopher Taylor - March 7, 2021
Former ‘champ champ’ Henry Cejudo has shared his breakdown of last night’s UFC 259 bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan. Sterling and Yan squared off on last night’s pay-per-view main card and the fight delivered as many expected. After a strong opening round for Sterling, the Russian champion seemingly began to change the tide in round two. By round four it appeared Yan was on route to a possible finish, however an illegal knee spelt an end to the fight and Petr’s title reign.
Dana White interested in Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena UFC women's bantamweight title fight
Adam Martin - March 7, 2021
UFC president Dana White says he is interested in having Amanda Nunes fight Julianna Pena next for the UFC women’s bantamweight title. Nunes got through Megan Anderson with relative ease at UFC 259, as she tapped her opponent out for her second defense of the UFC women’s featherweight title. At this point, there aren’t any new challenges for Nunes at 145lbs and she is likely going to return down to 135lbs for her next fight. Although “The Lioness” has beaten many of the top contenders at bantamweight already, there are still a couple of fresh fights out there or the champ at 135lbs. One of those potential opponents is Pena, who previously called Nunes out. Both women have expressed interest in a potential fight, and it seems like White likes it, too.