MMA News
Israel Adesanya facing the "hardest fight" fight of his career at UFC 259, says head coach
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Israel Adesanya is days out from the toughest fight of his career, according to his head coach, Eugene Bareman. Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion, is slated to move up to light heavyweight to challenge Jan Blachowicz in a bid for a second-title at UFC 259 this Saturday.
UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya full betting odds
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
Check out the complete betting odds for this Saturday’s UFC 259 PPV card featuring Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya in the main event. The stacked card features three title fights, with the marquee headliner featuring UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya moving up to 205lbs in an attempt to challenge light heavyweight kingpin Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is a perfect 20-0 in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC alone, so he’s a big favorite here at the sportsbooks to win a second UFC title. Blachowicz, meanwhile, is the underdog yet again, a role he has played in 12 UFC fights thus far in his career. Incredibly, he’s won eight fights as an underdog in the Octagon. Can he pull off his ninth underdog win at UFC 259 this weekend? We’ll find out on Saturday.
Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259: "It's gameplan of a mouse, yeah?"
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling will run from him at UFC 259, suggesting he will have the gameplan of a mouse. Yan vs. Sterling is one of three title fights featured on this Saturday’s stacked UFC 259 card. Yan is coming off of a successful TKO victory over Jose Aldo to capture the vacant belt back at UFC 251 on Fight Island, while Sterling is coming off of a first-round submission over top contender Cory Sandhagen in his last fight. This matchup is very much a clash of styles, as Yan prefers to stand and trade on the feet, where he can unleash his wicked KO power, while Sterling prefers to go to the ground and submit his opponents. It makes this weekend’s 135lbs title fight a fascinating matchup and a tough one to predict.
Photo | Anthony Johnson looking seriously slimmed-down ahead of Bellator debut
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson is looking seriously slimmed-down ahead of his upcoming debut with Bellator MMA. Johnson retired after a loss to Daniel Cormier in 2017, but has since teased a comeback on numerous occasions. That comeback finally became official earlier this year, when he signed with Bellator to much fanfare.
Jan Blachowicz reveals massive weight advantage for Israel Adesanya superfight at UFC 259
Adam Martin - March 3, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz says he expects to weigh between 215lbs and 220lbs when he fights Israel Adesanya at UFC 259. Adesanya is moving up to the UFC light heavyweight division for the first time in an attempt to become a rare double champion. “The Last Stylebender” has said that he plans on weighing around 193lbs come fight night, which would obviously make him one of the lightest light heavyweights in the division. Standing across from him on Saturday night will be Blachowicz, the reigning and defending UFC light heavyweight champion. And while Adesanya is two inches taller than him, there is going to be a major difference in weight.
Joe Rogan returns to commentary duties at UFC 259
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
Joe Rogan will be back at the commentary desk for UFC 259, alongside play-by-play man Jon Anik and former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. UFC 259 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jan Blachowicz and challenger Israel Adesanya, who is the promotion’s middleweight champion. The card will also feature a featherweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson, a bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling, and a host of other high-profile matchups.
UFC rankings update: Ciryl Gane, Magomed Ankalaev make huge climbs
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 20 card, and as always, there have been so big changes. Most notably, Ciryl Gane is now a top-5 heavyweight after beating Jairzinho Rozenstruik by decision in the card’s main event. Magomed Ankalaev also made a big climb in the light heavyweight rankings after he defeated Nikita Krylov by decision in the card’s co-main event.
Thiago Santos admits he struggled with "anxiety mixed with doubt, fear" before Glover Teixeira loss
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2021
UFC light heavyweight contender Thiago Santos says he was not in a good head space ahead of his recent loss to Glover Teixeira. Santos met Teixeira in November. After sustaining some significant damage in rounds one and two, he was submitted by his fellow Brazilian in round three.
MMA veterans Jim Miller and Roxanne Modafferi book their next UFC appearances
Harry Kettle - March 3, 2021
MMA fan favorites Jim Miller and Roxanne Modafferi are both booked in for their next UFC appearances, as per MMA Junkie and Combate. Both of these veterans are coming off the back of defeats with Miller losing to Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision last August. Modafferi, on the other hand, was defeated by Viviane Araújo back in January.
Report | Conor McGregor potentially bought out of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey
Harry Kettle - March 3, 2021
A recent press release has indicated Conor McGregor could be on the verge of being bought out of his Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand. It’s been a few years now since McGregor introduced the world to his new whiskey and ever since then, it’s taken off in more ways than one in countries all across the globe. However, a recent press release from Becle stated: “On February 23, 2021, the Company provided notice of the exercise of its call option to acquire 51% of the equity interests of EBS.”
Aljamain Sterling critical of Petr Yan's previous wins, plans to prove the Russian was a "paper champ this entire time"
Christopher Taylor - March 2, 2021
Aljamain Sterling is brimming with confidence ahead of his bantamweight title shot against Petr Yan at this weekend’s highly anticipated UFC 259 event. This Saturday on pay-per-view the UFC will hold a total of three title fights, which includes a men’s bantamweight bout between Yan and Sterling.
Petr Yan explains why he would prefer to fight TJ Dillashaw over Cory Sandhagen if victorious at UFC 259
Christopher Taylor - March 2, 2021
Petr Yan is hoping for a “big fight” in the form of former champ TJ Dillashaw after he defeats Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. The UFC’s reigning bantamweight champion, Yan (15-1 MMA), will square off with Sterling (19-3 MMA) on the main card of this Saturday’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.
Jon Jones offers to end rivalry with Daniel Cormier: “What do you say DC, friends?”
Adam Martin - March 2, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones offered to end his rivalry with Daniel Cormier, sending DC the following message: “What do you say DC, friends?” Jones and Cormier had one of the most bitter and heated rivalries in UFC history. The two were on a collision course for the UFC light heavyweight title and met in a highly-anticipated main event at UFC 182 in 2015. Jones won a unanimous decision that night but would soon deal with several legal issues and find himself stripped of the title. In 2017, Jones and Cormier met in a rematch, and Jones knocked DC out with a head kick. But the result of the bout was overturned to a No Contest after Jones tested positive for PEDs.
Conor McGregor assures fans he’s going to "cheque the leg kick" next time out
Adam Martin - March 2, 2021
UFC superstar Conor McGregor assured his fans that he’s going to “cheque the leg kick” the next time he steps into the Octagon. McGregor was stopped by rival Dustin Poirier in the pair’s rematch at UFC 257 in January. Part of Poirier’s gameplan was to land devastating calf kicks that greatly inhibited McGregor’s ability to move around the Octagon. The result was McGregor being unable to get away from Poirier’s big power shots, and paying for it with a second-round TKO defeat. The lack of urgency by the Irishman to check the low kicks by Poirier directly contributed to the loss, and now “Notorious” is letting fans know he won’t make that same mistake again.
Luke Rockhold blasts "annoying, stupid" Paulo Costa for hangover excuse: "Shut up and stop making excuses"
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Luke Rockhold is not a fan of Paulo Costa. After Costa suffered his first career loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 for the middleweight title he immediately said something happened. However, just recently, he explained that “something” was the fact he was dealing with a hangover. He said he drank a bottle of wine the night before the fight in order to fall asleep.
Israel Adesanya says no middleweight fights excite him except for Darren Till
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Israel Adesanya isn’t too excited about the middleweight division. Adesanya, who has already defended his middleweight title twice, is set to move up to face Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259. If Adesanya wins and becomes a champ-champ, many wonder if he will go back to middleweight or remain at light heavyweight.
Israel Adesanya shares timeframe for possible Jon Jones fight
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Israel Adesanya still wants to fight Jon Jones. When Adesanya first became UFC champion, he and Jones started to call each other out. Many fans wanted to see it take place and “The Last Stylebender” initially said the bout would happen in Las Vegas in the summer of 2021 at the new Raiders stadium. However, due to the pandemic, the timeframe has changed but Adesanya still wants the fight to happen.
Jan Blachowicz says he might wrestle Israel Adesanya but expects to earn KO win and show him "the Legendary Polish Power"
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Jan Blachowicz knew Israel Adesanya would be his next opponent. After Blachowicz TKO’d Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 to become the new light heavyweight champion, and Adesanya beat Paulo Costa on the same card, the promotion was quick to offer the fight. Not even a full day went past and Dana White and company were suggesting that the fight could headline UFC 256. But, with a baby on the way, Blachowicz asked for the contest to take place in March.