MMA News

Cole Shelton - February 8, 2021

In the main event of UFC Vegas 18, Alexander Volkov took on combat sports legend, Alistair Overeem. Both men were looking to cement themselves as top-five heavyweights and it was Volkov who took that next step. Ultimately, it was the Russian who won the fight by second-round TKO as he pieced up Overeem and rocked him several times.

Adam Martin - February 8, 2021

UFC lightweight Beneil Dariush released a statement following his “hard-fought fight” with Diego Ferreira at last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 18. Dariush edged out a split decision in a back-and-forth war between two of the most underrated lightweights in the sport. Both Dariush and Ferreira entered the bout in the 10-15 range in the UFC lightweight rankings, but they both showed with this spirited affair that they belong closer to the top-five. In fact, Dariush went on a post-fight rant about why he and Ferreira should have already been matched up against top-ranked opponents, though he later apologized and took those comments back.

Adam Martin - February 8, 2021

UFC flyweight contender Alexandre Pantoja responded to bantamweight star Sean O’Malley’s claims that he knocked him out in sparring. O’Malley said on his podcast last week that he knocked out Pantoja several years ago at the MMA Lab. He also said that former UFC champion Henry Cejudo saw it happen and didn’t condone it but O’Malley says he went in there and finished Pantoja anyways.

Adam Martin - February 8, 2021

A new fight has been added to this weekend’s UFC 258 card as Andre Ewell takes on Chris Gutierrez in a contest between talented bantamweights. Gutierrez’s own camp FactoryX Muay Thai broke the news of this last-minute addition to UFC 258. The team tweeted out that news about the fight, though few other details are presently known. Both Gutierrez and Ewell typically compete at bantamweight, but since the fight is taking place on short notice it could be held at featherweight, instead. Regardless, Ewell vs. Gutierrez is set to take place at UFC 258 this Saturday night. The card takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas Nevada and this is the 13th fight on it.

Chris Taylor - February 8, 2021

Frankie Edgar was hoping to earn a bantamweight title shot with a win over Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 18. Edgar (24-9-1 MMA) had made his 135-pound debut this past August where he picked up a thrilling split-decision victory over Pedro Munhoz. That win had snapped a two-fight losing skid for ‘The Answer’, as Frankie had previously suffered setbacks to Chan Sung Jung and Max Holloway at featherweight.

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2021

Kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki has been released by the UFC, and is seemingly plotting a return to the sport that made him a superstar. Saki, the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion and former Glory Light Heavyweight Champion, signed with the UFC to much acclaim in 2017. He made his debut with the promotion in Japan in September of that year, weathering some early adversity to turn the lights out on Henrique da Silva in the waning moments of the first round.

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2021

Who has the better boxing between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway? Dustin Poirier, who has fought both twice, has shared his thoughts on the debate. Holloway last fought on January 16, when he landed north of 400 strikes en route to a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar. In the middle of that fight, he proclaimed himself the best boxer in the UFC.

Tom Taylor - February 8, 2021

Donald Cerrone has confirmed that he’ll be fighting Diego Sanchez at welterweight next, adding that he’s plotting a violent victory, then a move back down to lightweight. Rumors about a May 8 Cerrone vs. Sanchez fight emerged last week, with Sanchez announcing it would likely be the final fight of his long career.

Harry Kettle - February 8, 2021

Ali Abdelaziz has provided fans with an update on the condition of Frankie Edgar after his devastating knockout loss to Cory Sandhagen. The veteran Edgar was viewed as the underdog heading into his bout against Sandhagen but many did believe he had a decent chance of causing “The Sandman” some real problems. In the end, though, it was Sandhagen who got the job done with an insane flying knee KO after just 28 seconds.

Christopher Taylor - February 7, 2021

UFC President Dana White and numerous pro fighters weighed in after Tom Brady earned his seventh career Super Bowl tonight. Brady left his longtime home of New England last offseason and signed with the NFC’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 43-year-old quarterback led the franchise to its first playoff appearance since 2003 this postseason.

Christopher Taylor - February 7, 2021

Paulo Costa has trimmed down considerably following his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 this past September. Costa and Adesanya squared off for the promotions middleweight championship September 27 on Fight Island. Both men had entered the highly anticipated matchups sporting perfect professional records.

Christopher Taylor - February 7, 2021

Mixed martial arts veteran Chris Leben says he would consider returning to fighting for a bout with YouTube sensation Jake Paul. Leben (22-12 MMA, 3-1 BK) returned to action at Friday’s BKFC KnuckleMania event for a highly anticipated showdown with Quentin Henry. Prior to the contest, ‘The Crippler’ had announced that his bout with ‘The Hero’ would be the final fight of his combat sports career.

Adam Martin - February 7, 2021

UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen was sympathetic to Frankie Edgar after knocking him out at UFC Vegas 18 but admits it’s all part of the game. Sandhagen landed a brutal flying knee to the chin of Edgar in the first round of their UFC Vegas 18 co-main event fight. Sandhagen was a big betting favorite entering the contest, so it’s not a huge surprise that he got his hand raised. But the incredible fashion that he got the finish couldn’t have been expected by anyone. Incredibly, Sandhagen has now won his last two fights in the UFC via the rarely-seen flying knee and spinning wheel kick, over Edgar and Marlon Moraes, respectively. Sandhagen moved to 7-1 in the UFC following the knockout win, which left Edgar in a daze.

Adam Martin - February 7, 2021

Alexandre Pantoja called for a rematch against UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo following his win over Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 18. Pantoja won a hard-fought unanimous decision over Kape in a closely-contested flyweight bout on the UFC Vegas 18 main card. It was a big win for Pantoja, who improved to 7-3 overall in the UFC by taking out the former RIZIN champ Kape. Pantoja was already the No. 5 ranked flyweight coming into the bout and figures to remain there following this win. Entrenched as one of the top contenders at 125lbs, Pantoja is aiming for the top prize, and that’s a rematch with the champion Figueiredo.

Adam Martin - February 7, 2021

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley opened up as a big betting underdog against Vicente Luque for their upcoming fight at UFC 260. Woodley has lost his last three fights to Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, and Kamaru Usman. Not only did he lose those fights, but Burns and Usman shut him out on the scorecards and Covington finished him with TKO. Considering he was the UFC welterweight champion just two years ago, it’s been an incredible fall from grace for Woodley. But despite the recent win streak he has vowed to keep fighting, and the UFC recently booked him to take on Luque at UFC 260. That event takes place on March 27.

Adam Martin - February 7, 2021

Lightweight Devonte Smith revealed that his celebration plans after his big win at UFC Vegas 18 are to “get blazed, chill, and play UFC.” Smith was making his comeback to the Octagon after over a year away from the cage following a shocking upset KO loss to Khama Worthy at UFC 241 in August 2019. Not long after losing that fight, Smith suffered a tear to his Achilles tendon in training and he’s been on the shelf ever since. To make matters worse, Smith dealt with a personal tragedy as his sister was shot and killed in July 2020. But the 27-year-old Ohio native persevered through all of it and managed to make it back to the Octagon on Saturday.

Adam D Martin - February 7, 2021

UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem issued a statement following his TKO loss on Saturday night to Alexander Volkov at UFC Vegas 18. Overeem suffered a brutal second-round TKO defeat at the hands of Volkov, who had arguably the best performance of his career to date as he systematically decimated Overeem with pin-point accurate striking and unbelievable power. For Overeem, this loss snapped a two-fight winning streak for the veteran, and it puts into question whether or not “one final run” at the UFC heavyweight title is even possible at this point. Had Overeem won this fight, another run for the belt would have been realistic. But after suffering such a brutal loss at age 40, you have to wonder about his future.

Adam D Martin - February 7, 2021

UFC welterweight Mike Perry issued challenges to a plethora of different fighters including Robbie Lawler, Li Jingliang, and Conor McGregor. Perry is a newfound father and has been enjoying getting his feet wet into parenthood as of late, but he makes his living as a prizefighter and will likely jump back into the Octagon in the coming months. And despite losing a decision to Tim Means in his last fight and dropping three of his last four overall, “Platinum” still has his sights set high.