MMA News
John Castaneda says fighting and knocking out "legend" Eddie Winleand was "surreal"
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2021
John Castaneda was honored to fight Eddie Wineland. At UFC Vegas 19, Castaneda was set for his second UFC fight, and on the other end of his contract was Eddie Wineland. For Castaneda, he says it was surreal to get the chance to fight the former WEC champion.
Dustin Poirier says the Conor McGregor trilogy is a "completely different fight," expects it to happen in June or July
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2021
Dustin Poirier knows he will face Conor McGregor again. After Poirier scored a second-round knockout win over McGregor in the main event of UFC 257, many hinted at a possible trilogy. Both men expressed interest in running it back, and when they do, “The Diamond” knows it will be a completely different fight.
Weili Zhang to defend strawweight title at UFC 261 against Rose Namajunas
Cole Shelton - February 26, 2021
Weili Zhang will look to defend her strawweight title for a second time against Rose Namajunas. For months now, many have been wondering when Zhang would fight again and who she would face. She had options of fighting Namajunas or Carla Esparza or even rematching Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Yet, according to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Zhang is set to defend her belt against Namajunas on April 24 at UFC 261.
UFC Vegas 20 card down to 10 fights after losing Alex Oliveira vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
Adam Martin - February 26, 2021
Saturday’s UFC Vegas 20 card is down to just 10 fights now after losing a welterweight bout between Alex Oliveira and Ramazan Kuramagomedov. Oliveira vs. Kuramagomedov was itself a replacement bout, as the Russian filled in on just four days’ notice after Randy Brown pulled out of the fight at the start of fight week. Oliveira wanted to remain on the card and the UFC found him a very tough opponent in the UFC newcomer Kuramagomedov, but unfortunately, the fight was just not meant to be. It was scratched on weigh-ins day after Kuramagomedov was not cleared to fight due to an illness. With no time left to find a replacement opponent, Oliveira was also removed from the card. It’s unknown if the UFC plans on rescheduling this bout (h/t MMAFighting.com). We do not have news if either fighter was paid their show money.
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.
Former UFC fighter Jonathan Goulet opens up on battle with depression: "I wanted to die"
Adam Martin - February 26, 2021
Former UFC welterweight Jonathan Goulet opened up about his lifelong battle with depression, saying at times he wishes he would die. Goulet is a pioneer of mixed martial arts in Canada. The 41-year-old native of Victoria, Quebec, racked up a 13-5 MMA record between 2001 and 2005 while fighting for promotions such as UCC, TKO, SuperBrawl, and Extreme Challenge.
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.
Eddie Alvarez responds after Christian Lee claims to be the best lightweight in the entire world
Harry Kettle - February 26, 2021
ONE Championship’s Eddie Alvarez has taken issue with Christian Lee saying he’s the best lightweight in the world. Alvarez is set to return to the cage for the first time since August 2019 when he locks horns with Iuri Lapicus at ONE on TNT 1. A victory over Lapicus, who Lee beat back in October to retain the ONE Lightweight Championship, would take Alvarez to 2-1 with the promotion.
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.
Watch 252lbs Jon Jones hit the pads with Mike Winkeljohn
Adam Martin - February 25, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones says he weighs 252lbs and he posted a video of himself hitting pads and moving around with coach Mike Winkeljohn. Jones is set to move up to heavyweight for the first time in his MMA career later this year. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has been bulking up in preparation for the move up in weight for the past year. Jones’s move up to heavyweight is sure to be one of the most talked-about storylines for the rest of 2021. We have seen some videos of him lifting weights and putting on some muscle, but we haven’t seen any footage of him actually moving around the Octagon with his heavyweight frame, until now that is.
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.