MMA News
Ben Askren makes fans a promise ahead of boxing match: "You will witness the humiliation of Jake Paul"
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
Former UFC welterweight contender Ben Askren is promising a humiliating loss for YouTube star Jake Paul in their upcoming boxing match. Askren, who went 1-2 in the UFC welterweight division and is also the former ONE and Bellator welterweight champ, is slated to battle Paul for a maximum of eight rounds on April 17.
UFC Vegas 20 weigh-in results: One fighter misses weight, one fight scrapped
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Vegas 20 card out of the promotion’s Apex facility. The UFC Vegas 20 card will be headlined by a cage-shaking heavyweight showdown, as striking specialists Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Ciryl Gane collide in a bout that’s rife with title implications. Suriname’s Rozenstruik will enter the fight with the No. 4 spot in the heavyweight rankings, while France’s Gane is ranked at No. 7. Both men have extensive kickboxing and Muay Thai backgrounds, while Gane his the former TKO heavyweight champion.
Claressa Shields thanks Conor McGregor for support, offers MMA star some advice
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
Decorated boxing champion Claressa Shields has responded to a message of support from Conor McGregor, and offered the Irishman some advice in return. Shields, a multi-division boxing champion, is gearing up to venture into mixed martial arts under the PFL banner.
Charles Oliveira says he's ready to "move on" from Dustin Poirier fight, "The Diamond" responds
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
Charles Oliveira says he’s ready to “move on” from a potential fight with Dustin Poirier—and Poirier isn’t losing any sleep over that remark. Earlier this week, UFC commentator Joe Rogan called for a lightweight title fight between Oliveira and Poirier, with the division’s reigning champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring.
ONE Championship results: Big wins from Ennahachi, Petrosyan, Rodtang and Lee
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to our screens with the talent-packed ONE: Fists of Fury card out of the Singapore Indoor Arena. The card was topped by a ONE flyweight kickboxing title fight as the champion Ilias looked Ennahachi to defend his title against Thailand’s Superlek Kiatmoo9. Ennahachi ended up defending his belt with a competitive decision win that will be no doubt be the subject of much debate on social media.
Dan Hardy is "ready to accept" Matt Brown fight, just "waiting on the call from the UFC"
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Dan Hardy is ready to accept a fight with Matt Brown—he’s just waiting on the offer from the promotion. At the height of his MMA career, England’s Hardy was known as one of the most exciting welterweights in the game. Regrettably, the Brit has been sidelined since 2012 thanks to the discovery that he has a rare but generally innocuous heart disorder called Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome.
ONE Championship: 16-year-old Victoria Lee wins MMA debut, submits Sunisa Srisen
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
16-year-old Victoria Lee, the younger sister of ONE Championship titleholders Angela and Christian, made a splash in her pro MMA debut on Friday. Victoria made her debut in the opening bout of of the stacked ONE: Fists of Fury card in Singapore, taking on Thailand’s Sunisa Srisen. Srisen entered the ONE Circle with a substantial experience advantage, having assembled a 4-1 record in fights against the likes of Rika Ishige and Stamp Fairtex.
Max Holloway on a potential rematch with Conor McGregor: “It’s on a very short list for the UFC”
Harry Kettle - February 26, 2021
Max Holloway has given his thoughts on a potential rematch with Conor McGregor as speculation grows over the next move for both men. The two titans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship met at featherweight back in August 2013. On that night in Boston, McGregor managed to edge out the unanimous decision win in what proved to be Holloway’s last loss for almost six years until he ran into Dustin Poirier at lightweight.
John Lineker set to return as part of ONE Championship's April TNT events, faces Stephen Loman
Drake Riggs - February 25, 2021
The man with the “Hands of Stone,” John Lineker (33-9), is back and looks to continue his reign of terror in ONE Championship come this April. MMA Fighting confirmed Thursday that the former UFC flyweight hopeful now has his third fight in ONE booked. It will take place on April 28 at ONE on TNT 4 as Lineker faces off with the Philippines’ Stephen Loman (14-2).
If Gilbert Burns doesn't get Colby Covington next, he wants Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson
Drake Riggs - February 25, 2021
After recently falling short to ex-teammate Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns has already put together his path back to a title shot. With the always outspoken former interim champ Colby Covington in his sights, “Durinho” knows exactly who he wants if he doesn’t get that matchup next.
Jon Jones shares optimism following negative feedback regarding his speed at 252lbs
Christopher Taylor - February 25, 2021
UFC legend Jon Jones has responded after receiving some negative feedback regarding his speed and movement at 252lbs. The UFC’s longtime light heavyweight kingpin, Jones (26-1 MMA), vacated the promotions 205lbs title in August of 2020, following failed negotiations for a proposed heavyweight fight with Francis Ngannou.
Dan Hooker explains how his new "ugly-ass record" will allow him to take risks other guys aren't willing to take
Christopher Taylor - February 25, 2021
Perennial UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker believes his new “ugly-ass record” will allow him to take risks other guys aren’t willing to take. Hooker (20-10 MMA) suffered his second straight loss at January’s UFC 257 event, this after being knocked out by Michael Chandler in the very first round.
Dustin Jacoby admits he didn't know who Maxim Grishin was, confident he will KO him
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2021
Dustin Jacoby was surprised to see Maxim Grishin’s name on the other side of his bout agreement. Jacoby made his return to the Octagon on Halloween night and scored a first-round TKO win over Justin Ledet. After the win, Jacoby figured he would get a known name but was offered Grishin who fought in PFL and is 1-1 in the UFC. Although the Factory X fighter wanted a known name, he just wants to get back in there and string together some wins.
Julian Erosa has no issue with ref stoppage in TKO win over Nate Landwehr: "People saying it was an early stoppage are just upset they lost money"
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2021
Julian Erosa knows Nate Landwehr went out for a second. At UFC Vegas 19, Erosa pulled off another upset win as he scored a first-round TKO win via flying knee. However, when the ref stopped the fight, Landwehr immediately complained about the stoppage. For Erosa, he says Landwehr went out and the only people that are still mad over the stoppage are people who bet on Landwehr to win.
Jeremy Stephens moves back up to lightweight when he fights Drakkar Klose in April
Adam Martin - February 25, 2021
UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens will move back up to the lightweight division when he takes on Drakkar Klose later this spring. Stephens vs. Klose has been added to the UFC Fight Night card on April 17. That event is headlined by middleweights Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. Stephens will be moving back up to 155lbs, which was his original weight class in the UFC. He has been competing at featherweight for the past seven years but is going to move back to lightweight for this bout. It’s unknown if this is a permanent move for Stephens or if he’s just taking the fight because it was available and he likes the matchup. Either way, Stephens vs. Klose will take place later this spring. MMAjunkie.com’s Nolan King was the first to break the news.
Frank Mir set to make boxing debut on Paul-Askren undercard against former world champion boxer Antonio Tarver
Cole Shelton - February 25, 2021
Frank Mir is set to make his boxing debut on April 17. Mir, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has not competed in MMA since October of 2019 when he beat Roy Nelson by decision in Bellator. Mir then became a free agent and there was some talk of him joining BKFC.
Joe Rogan campaigns for UFC lightweight title fight between Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira
Tom Taylor - February 25, 2021
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan wants to see a lightweight title fight between top contenders Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira. The lightweight title will seemingly soon be up for grabs with the division’s longtime champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, poised to ride off into the sunset. If that’s indeed the way things shake out, the UFC will need to crown a new champ in Nurmagomedov’s stead.
Tyson Fury believes UFC's Conor McGregor would win trilogy fight Dustin Poirier
Tom Taylor - February 25, 2021
Heavyweight boxing superstar Tyson Fury is backing Conor McGregor to beat Dustin Poirier if the pair meet in the UFC’s Octagon for a third time. McGregor and Poirier first met at featherweight in 2014, with McGregor winning by first-round knockout. They then met in a rematch at UFC 257 last month, this time in the lightweight division. Poirier won that rematch by second-round knockout.