MMA News
Petr Yan sends a video to Aljamain Sterling showcasing what is to come at UFC 259
Adam Martin - February 19, 2021
UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan sent top contender Aljamain Sterling a video of what he is preparing to do to him at UFC 259. Yan and Sterling will mix it up on March 6 when the two meet in the co-main event of UFC 259. The two bantamweight stars have been chatty with each other on social media in the buildup to this fight, which has been entertaining for fans to watch. In March, they will finally be able to get their hands on each other at UFC 259. In a video that Yan sent to Sterling posted on his social media, he showed “Funk Master” a taste of what’s to come.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm set to return on May 8 against Julianna Pena
Drake Riggs - February 19, 2021
A new contender is needed at 135-pounds. With Holly Holm continuing to make another push toward the title, she next has to get by Julianna Pena. Friday, ESPN broke the news that the former UFC bantamweight queen will do battle with The Ultimate Fighter season 18 winner in Pena on May 8. The location for the fight night event remains to be determined as does whether or not it is the main event.
Rafael Alves issues statement following embarrassing weight miss, claims salmon played a factor
Adam Martin - February 19, 2021
UFC featherweight Rafael Alves pointed to salmon as the reason behind his record-setting 11.5lbs weight miss for his fight at UFC Vegas 19. It was an embarrassing morning on the scale for Alves, a former Titan FC and Contender Series competitor who was set to make his UFC debut against Pat Sabatini in the curtain jerker of UFC Vegas 19. Alves weighed in at 157.5lbs for his featherweight bout against Sabatini, which was a full 11.5lbs above the non-title featherweight limit of 146lbs. It’s actually the biggest weight miss in UFC history, narrowing beating out Anthony Johnson, who came in at 197lbs, a whole 11lbs over the limit for a middleweight bout against Vitor Belfort in 2012. It’s very rare to see a fighter at the UFC level miss weight this egregiously.
Henry Cejudo has a theory for why Dana White won’t book him against Alex Volkanovski
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2021
Henry Cejudo has an interesting theory as to why Dana White and the UFC never booked the fight against Alex Volkanovski. After Cejudo TKO’d Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 to defend his bantamweight title, he announced his retirement from the sport. However, since the retirement he has hinted at a return to face Volkanovski. But, he believes White won’t book the fight because he knows he’d win and retire with the belt.
Kamaru Usman shuts down rematch with Jorge Masvidal, ‘Gamebred’ issues fiery response
Drake Riggs - February 19, 2021
Right when it looked like the Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal saga was set to continue, the champ has now appeared to change his tune. Following his stellar title defense against former teammate Gilbert Burns at UFC 258, Usman took to the mic to express his dissatisfaction with a former foe. Threatening to finish Masvidal in a potential rematch, the champion went on to express that he was “feeling generous” days later. Thus indicating his willingness to grant a rematch to “Gamebred” although Masvidal fell short via a lopsided decision at UFC 251.
Chris Gutierrez happy with win over Andre Ewell, wants Miles Johns next
Cole Shelton - February 19, 2021
Chris Gutierrez was patiently waiting to get a fight offer and when he finally got one, it happened to be on day’s notice against Andre Ewell at UFC 258. It was a very intriguing matchup and one that had a storyline behind it. At UFC 247, Ewell edged out a split decision win over Jonathan Martinez. It was a very close fight and many thought Martinez should’ve gotten the win. However, that was not the case so entering this fight, Gutierrez admits there was some thought of avenging his friend and teammate.
Dan Hardy wants return but not to "fight some bum", Matt Brown offers his services
Adam Martin - February 19, 2021
Former UFC welterweight title contender Dan Hardy said he wants to return to the Octagon, and now Matt Brown has volunteered his services. Hardy hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision win over Amir Sadollah at UFC Nottingham in September 2012, the same night Stipe Miocic was knocked out by Stefan Struve. Hardy was supposed to fight Brown at UFC on FOX 7 in April 2013, but he was forced out of the fights by doctors due to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPWS) and he has not fought since then. However, Hardy has continued to train, and now that his condition is improved, he has been teasing a return to the Octagon. His goal is to fight again sometime in 2021.
Gregor Gillespie returns from lengthy layoff opposite City Kickboxing's Brad Riddell
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
Gregor Gillespie is finally slated to return to the cage. The once-beaten American lightweight will take on Kiwi striker Brad Riddell on March 20. News of this matchup was first reported by Christopher Reive of the New Zealand Herald.
Jan Blachowicz makes bold prediction for Israel Adesanya fight at UFC 259
Adam Martin - February 19, 2021
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz made a bold prediction for his upcoming championship match against Israel Adesanya at UFC 259. Blachowicz puts his 205lbs belt on the line for the first time against Adesanya on March 6 at UFC 259. For Blachowicz, it’s yet another fight where he’s being count, as the champion is once again a sizeable underdog to defeat Adesanya. Many believe that Adesanya is going to go in there and earn an easy paycheck, but despite all of the doubters, Blachowicz is confident he can get the job done. In fact, he’s even predicting a highlight-reel finish.
UFC Vegas 19 weigh-in results: Multiple fighters miss marks by huge margins, one fight scrapped
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Vegas 19 card. The card will be headlined by a pivotal heavyweight clash, as the division’s No. 2-ranked contender Curtis Blaydes takes on the fourth-ranked Derrick Lewis. While the queue for a heavyweight title shot is getting quite long, the expectation is that the Blaydes vs. Lewis winner will be well positioned in that regard.
Henry Cejudo: "The best 135 pounder other than me" is "probably" Cory Sandhagen
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
Former two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo believes Cory Sandhagen is the best fighter among the promotion’s active bantamweights. Cejudo previously ruled over the UFC flyweight and bantamweight divisions, but retired in early 2020.
Sean O'Malley, Tyron Woodley fights official for UFC 260
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
Sean O’Malley and Tyron Woodley are both officially scheduled to return to the Octagon at UFC 260 on March 27. O’Malley, a promising prospect in the 135-pound bantamweight division, will make his return to the cage against Brazilian striking specialist Thomas Almeida. Woodley, the former UFC welterweight champion, will return to action against rising contender Vicente Luque.
Derrick Lewis says it "would be really crazy" to win UFC heavyweight title
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
Entertaining UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis believes it “would be really crazy” to win the promotion’s heavyweight championship. Lewis has been one of the UFC’s top heavyweights for many years. While he came up short in his lone crack at the heavyweight belt—losing via submission to Daniel Cormier in 2018—he remains a fixture of the top-5 and conceivably re-enter the title conversation if he beats Curtis Blaydes this Saturday.
Itsuki Hirata hopes win over Miku Nakamura will set up future bouts with Meng Bo, Angela Lee
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
Itsuki Hirata, one of the brightest prospects on the ONE Championship roster, is days out from a potentially career-altering fight. The 21-year-old will collide with Miku Nakamura in the main event of Road to ONE on February 22 in her native Tokyo. A win in this matchup could launch her into the anticipated ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix, and open the door to fights with some of the promotion’s fiercest fighters.
Jake Paul sparring partner says Ben Askren is "going down"
Tom Taylor - February 19, 2021
MMA fighter Raush Manfio says Ben Askren has “no chance” in his upcoming boxing match with YouTube celebrity Jake Paul. Paul and Askren are slated to collide in an eight-round pro boxing match on April 17. Ahead of the fight, Paul enlisted the help of Manfio to help him prepare for Askren, who went 1-2 in the UFC and is the former ONE and Bellator welterweight champion.
Curtis Blaydes comfortable with being third in the UFC heavyweight title queue behind Jon Jones
Harry Kettle - February 19, 2021
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes has said that he understands why Jon Jones will be receiving an immediate title shot ahead of him – even if he beats Derrick Lewis this weekend. Blaydes is hoping to take a big step forward in the race to challenge for the Heavyweight Championship when he takes on fellow contender Derrick Lewis in a highly anticipated bout on Saturday night.
UFC 261 in the works for Vegas after Singapore negotiations fail, strawweight title fight targeted
Drake Riggs - February 18, 2021
Rampant speculation has surrounded UFC 261 and its location. Now, it appears things will stay in Vegas with a pair of pivotal strawweight bouts. Combate reported on Thursday that the April 24 UFC pay-per-view event will no longer be at what was initially reported as Singapore. Instead, the promotion will stick with keeping things stateside in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex facility.
Derrick Lewis hopes to send Curtis Blaydes to the ICU at UFC Vegas 19
Adam Martin - February 18, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis said that he hopes to send Curtis Blaydes to the ICU following their main event bout at UFC Vegas 19. Lewis faces off with Blaydes in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC card. The two were previously scheduled to fight in November but Blaydes was forced out of the bout due to a case of COVID-19. The pair needed three months to be rescheduled, so there will be plenty of frustrations to be let out when the two heavyweights fight this weekend. Blaydes has promised that he will revert to his world-class wrestling to get the job done as always, while Lewis says he will get the KO. It should be fascinating to watch the fight unfold.