MMA News
ONE Championship results: Stamp Fairtex loses via submission, confusion ensues
Tom Taylor - February 5, 2021
On Friday, ONE Championship promoted its third exciting event in many weeks with ONE: Unbreakable 3 in Singapore. This ONE card was headlined by a mixed martial arts bout between former ONE atomweight Muay Thai and kickboxing champion Stamp Fairtex and debuting Ukrainian Alyona Rassohyna, an armbar specialist with an 83% submission rate.
UFC 258: ‘Usman vs Burns’ Fight Card and Rumors
Harry Kettle - February 5, 2021
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to pay-per-view next weekend as Kamaru Usman prepares to defend his Welterweight Championship against rising contender and former teammate Gilbert Burns. Event: UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns Date: Saturday, 13th February 2021 Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: ESPN+ – 8pm/10pm EST
Cris Cyborg responds after Kayla Harrison accuses her of not “signing on the dotted line”
Harry Kettle - February 5, 2021
Cris Cyborg has issued a response after potential opponent and PFL star Kayla Harrison claimed she didn’t “sign on the dotted line” when given the chance to fight her last year. In 2020 there was a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Cyborg and where she’d end up going next, with PFL reportedly being in the running to secure her signature. In the end, though, Bellator was her chosen destination.
Michael Chandler reacts after Dustin Poirier rejects lightweight title fight: "He might end up just being a hot sauce salesman"
Christopher Taylor - February 4, 2021
Michael Chandler thinks it is “a little bit weird” that Dustin Poirier isn’t interested in fighting for the UFC lightweight championship next. Chandler and Poirier both earned sensational stoppage victories at last months UFC 257 pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi.
Video | Beneil Dariush brought to tears when receiving UFC comeback of 2020 award
Drake Riggs - February 4, 2021
Rising lightweight contender Beneil Dariush provided MMA fans with one of the craziest moments of 2020 in his win over Drakkar Klose at UFC 248. The second-round knockout finish came in an exciting enough fashion to earn the Kings MMA product the UFC’s comeback of the year honors.
UFC legends meet in potential retirement match as Diego Sanchez fights Donald Cerrone
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
Two legends square off in a potential retirement bout as Octagon veterans Diego Sanchez and Donald Cerrone square off later this spring. MMAFighting.com reports that Sanchez vs. Cerrone will be added to a newly-unveiled UFC event on May 8. Details for this card are scarce, so no word yet on if this will be a five-round headliner or if it will be a three-round fight. Regardless, this is a big fight between two of the UFC’s all-time best. With both nearing 40, Sanchez and Cerrone are getting up there in age and both have openly spoken about retirement. There is a very real chance that this may be the final fighter of both fighters’ careers.
Alistair Overeem says Brock Lesnar knockout was best UFC debut ever
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem believes his knockout win over Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 was the best Octagon debut ever. It was back in December 2011 when Overeem made his UFC debut against the former champion Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141. Overeem was the reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion and he had a UFC debut for the ages when he finishes Lesnar with a vicious body kick. Remember that knockout in the video below.
Stipe Miocic discusses his upcoming rematch with Francis Ngannou, predicts “the same outcome”
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2021
Stipe Miocic is expecting to hear “And Still” when he rematches Francis Ngannou at UFC 260. Miocic is set to defend his heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 260 on March 27. Although Miocic dominated the first fight at UFC 220 winning all five rounds including one round being a 10-8, many pundits believe the rematch will be different. Ngannou has looked improved but Miocic doesn’t think the result will change.
Mike Rodriguez looking to move past Ed Herman controversy with KO win over Danilo Marques
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2021
Mike Rodriguez is looking forward to putting the Ed Herman controversy behind him. At UFC Vegas 10 in September, Rodriguez landed a knee to the body of Herman that dropped him. Rodriguez would’ve needed a few punches to finish the fight, but the ref called time for a groin strike. However, video replay wasn’t used and Herman got five minutes to recover from a body shot and ended up submitting Rodriguez in the third.
Floyd Mayweather reveals Logan Paul fight will take place in Japan, says he's boxing Jake Paul after
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2021
Floyd Mayweather has revealed his upcoming exhibition bout against Logan Paul will take place in Tokyo, Japan. Mayweather and Paul were supposed to fight on February 20 but the bout was officially postponed and many wondered if the fight would even happen. Yet, Mayweather took to Instagram to reveal the fight will take place in Tokyo.
Pro fighters make their picks for Cory Sandhagen vs Frankie Edgar
Cole Shelton - February 4, 2021
In the co-main event of UFC Vegas 18, Cory Sandhagen looks to continue his rise up the bantamweight ranks as he battles future Hall of Famer, Frankie Edgar. Heading into the fight, Sandhagen is a -450 favorite with the former lightweight champ being a +325 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe Sandhagen gets it done, but some think Edgar’s wrestling will be a difference-maker.
Video | Paige VanZant gets into heated shoving match at BKFC 16 weigh-ins
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
Women’s superstar Paige VanZant got into a heated shoving match with rival Britain Hart at the BKFC 16 weigh-ins on Thursday night. VanZant, the former UFC women’s star, surprised combat sports fans when she decided to take her talents to BKFC. On Friday night, she takes on Hart in a fight that got very personal at the official weigh-ins. VanZant made weight, coming in at 126lbs, and Hart did, too, coming in at 124.4lbs. During the staredown, things got testy when the two rivals engaged in a shoving match. Check out the video below.
Tyson Fury shares thoughts on why Conor McGregor lost at UFC 257
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2021
Heavyweight boxing superstar Tyson Fury has shared his thoughts on why Conor McGregor came up short against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. After being stopped by a volley of strikes in the second round of his UFC 257 fight with Poirier, McGregor was quick to blame his prolonged stretches of inactivity for his performance.
Rory MacDonald, Tom Lawlor among additions to PFL welterweight and light heavyweight rosters
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
Former UFC fighters Rory MacDonald and Tom Lawlor are among the latest additions to the PFL’s upcoming 170lbs and 205lbs tournaments. After announcing the promotion’s upcoming featherweight and lightweight rosters, PFL has now revealed what fighters will be involving in the promotion’s upcoming welterweight and light heavyweight tournaments. See the full list below via PFL.
Frank Mir trashes Stephen A. Smith for anti-women's MMA comments: "Send him back to the NBA"
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir trashed ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith for the controversial comments he made about women competing in MMA. Mir was not happy with Smith’s recent anti-women’s MMA comments when the ESPN talking head controversially said that women had no business being in the Octagon. A number of fighters have since taken to social media to post their disagreements with Smith for his outlandish comments. One of those fighters is Mir, the former UFC heavyweight champion. Mir’s daughter Bella is one of the top women’s MMA prospects in the United States right now, so now wonder Mir wasn’t thrilled with what Smith had to say. Check out Mir trashing Smith today on his Twitter.
UFC releases three more fighters, including Antonio Carlos Junior
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2021
The UFC is continuing to downsize its roster having recently cut three more fighters, including middleweight contender Antonio Carlos Junior. The 30-year-old Junior was handed his walking papers alongside welterweight fighters Carlton Minus and Rhys McKee, per MMA Junkie.
UFC Vegas 18: Overeem vs. Volkov full betting odds
Adam Martin - February 4, 2021
Check out the full betting odds for this weekend’s UFC Vegas 18 card headlined by heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. The main event for this weekend’s offering sees Overeem continue his march towards the UFC heavyweight title as he puts his two-fight win streak on the line against Volkov, who has won two of his last three fights. Overeem is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, but Volkov will surely put up a stiff challenge. These are the No. 5 and No. 6 ranked heavyweights in the UFC so the winner of this fight will put themselves in a prime position to compete for the title by year’s end.
Bare knuckle fighters rate Paige VanZant's chances in BKFC
Tom Taylor - February 4, 2021
Paige VanZant is days out from her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut. The former UFC star will battle Britain Hart, sans gloves, at BKFC: Knuckle Mania this Friday in Lakeland, Florida. Ahead of VanZant’s imminent BKFC debut, we reached out to several experienced bare knuckle fighters to get their thoughts on how she’ll perform in the ring.