MMA News

Cole Shelton - February 1, 2021

Michael Chandler is hoping to prove he’s the most violent fighter in the UFC and to do that he knows he needs to face Justin Gaethje. When Gaethje and Alvarez fought at UFC 218, many fans said the fight would determine who is the most violent fighter in the UFC. Alvarez ended up winning the fight by TKO, but after he left the promotion, and Gaethje went on a KO streak and many considered him the most violent man in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Cole Shelton - February 1, 2021

Dustin Poirier is interested in fighting Nate Diaz. After Poirier knocked out Conor McGregor at UFC 257, Diaz chimed in on Twitter calling for him to face Poirier. They were supposed to fight at UFC 230, and although it doesn’t make sense from a rankings perspective, “The Diamond” admits those are the kind of fights he is interested in.

Adam Martin - February 1, 2021

UFC middleweight Abu Azaitar was suspended for seven months by USADA after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. USADA announced the suspension on Monday. According to the drug-test organization, Azaitar failed four separate drug tests due to the banned substance tamoxifen. However, because he was forthcoming about the banned substances in his system and was able to prove that a doctor had prescribed the substance, USADA worked with him to lessen the sanction. In the end, USADA decided on a seven-month sanction, dating back to the date of the first positive test in August 2020. Therefore, Azaitar will be able to return to the Octagon in March.

Adam Martin - February 1, 2021

Former UFC women’s strawweight title contender Jessica Penne is set to return to the Octagon this March at UFC 260 against Hannah Goldy. Penne has not fought since April 2017, when she lost a unanimous decision to Danielle Taylor at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov. Since then, Penne has dealt with various USADA-related issues that have led to her being on the shelf that whole time. She is now ready to resume her career at age 38 and after four years away from the sport. The UFC matchmakers have booked Penne to take on Goldy at UFC 260, likely set to take place on March 27 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has opened up on his loss to Michael Chandler, and revealed why he removed his gloves in the Octagon post-fight. Hooker met Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 257 last month. The bout was Chandler’s first in the UFC after a prolonged stint in Bellator, and Hooker was viewed as a tough welcome committee.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2021

Ben Askren will have no trouble visualizing Jake Paul as he prepares for their anticipated professional boxing match. Askren, the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight titleholder and a former contender in the UFC, is slated to meet Paul in an eight-round pro boxing match on April 17. Ahead of the fight, he’s received a customized punching bag adorned with an image of Paul’s face.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2021

UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes Conor McGregor would probably sustain another loss if he was matched up with Michael Chandler. McGregor last fought in the main event of UFC 257 in January, emerging from a year-long hiatus only to be stopped by Dustin Poirier in the fight’s second round. That setback brought McGregor and Poirier to a 1-1 tie, as McGregor won their first fight by knockout back in 2014, but it still shrouded the Irishman’s future in uncertainty. Though he remains the sport’s biggest star, he’s now 1-2 in the UFC lightweight division, and is in desperate need of a victory if he intends to maintain his reputation as one of the division’s best fighters.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2021

The stacked UFC 259 pay-per-view will go down in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with a small number of fight fans in attendance. UFC 259 goes down on March 6, and immediately stands out as one of the promotion’s biggest pay-per-views of the year. The card will be topped by a whopping three title fights, as middleweight champion Israel Adesanya challenges light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the main event, and Petr Yan and Amanda Nunes defend the men’s bantamweight and women’s featherweight titles against Aljamain Sterling and Megan Anderson respectively.

Tom Taylor - February 1, 2021

You won’t catch UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman calling himself the Greatest of All Time. That’s because he doesn’t think anyone should bestow themselves with such a weighty title. Usman explained his objection to fighters proclaiming themselves the GOAT during a recent interview with MMA Fighting.

Harry Kettle - February 1, 2021

UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou is preparing for his rematch with Stipe Miocic in a unique way – by taking body shots from Dan Ige. Ngannou is gearing up for the biggest fight of his life as he prepares to lock horns with Miocic who, just three years ago, dominated him in a unanimous decision win back at UFC 220.

Harry Kettle - February 1, 2021

UFC legend Randy Couture remembers playing the role of “spoiler” when he beat Chuck Liddell way back at UFC 43. Couture is so often regarded as a legend in mixed martial arts and rightly so, but many often forget that it was towards the end of what many considered to be his “prime” that he did some of his best work.

Adam Martin - January 31, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier suggested that Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler fight each other for the vacant title. The race for the UFC lightweight title is high in the wake of Poirier’s knockout win over Conor McGregor at UFC 257. With UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov almost assuredly set to retire in the coming weeks and vacate the belt, Poirier — the self-named “uncrowned world champion” —  is fully expected to be one half of whatever the next lightweight title fight is. His opponent, however, is still up in the air, with McGregor, Chandler, Oliveira, and Nate Diaz all realistic options.

Adam Martin - January 31, 2021

Bellator commentator Mike Goldberg parodied Conor McGregor’s “who da fook are you?” in a comical cameo from the former UFC play-by-play man. Goldberg was the long-time UFC play-by-play commentator and he now does the same job for Bellator. In a recent cameo, a fan asked Goldberg to talk about the UFC 257 main event fight between McGregor and Dustin Poirier, and “Goldie” made sure the fan got their money’s worth. Check out the hilarious cameo video of Goldberg parodying the infamous “who the fook are you?” McGregor moment below (via Borrachinha Depot).

Adam Martin - January 31, 2021

Former UFC fighter Nik Lentz posted a graphic video to his social media showing him removing his own stitches from above his eye. Lentz recently announced his retirement from mixed martial arts following a split decision loss to Movsar Evloev on Fight Island. Lentz took more damage to his previously-injured eyes during the fight, prompting him to hang his gloves up. Of course, there was still the matter of the stitches that remained, and Lentz took care of it himself. The video might not be for everyone so viewer discretion is advised. In the video, you can see Lentz removing multiple stitches from above his right eye. Check out Lentz removing his stitches “Carnival style” below via his Twitter.

Adam Martin - January 31, 2021

BKFC fighter Paige VanZant blasted her haters ahead of her upcoming bout, telling them that she will still be beautiful even if she gets cut. VanZant left the UFC last year to sign a big-money, free-agent contract with BKFC. Next weekend, VanZant makes her bare-knuckle boxing debut against Britain Hart on February 5 during the Super Bowl weekend card. VanZant’s decision to move from MMA to BKFC, where the likelihood of her face getting cut is very high, has led to criticism from fans online, many of who believe she is making the wrong call. Her critics believe that VanZant will get cut open in BKFC which could harm her earning as an Instagram model. To those haters, VanZant has two words for them: grow up.

Adam Martin - January 31, 2021

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Aspen Ladd has officially challenged fellow divisional stalwart Julianna Pena to a fight this spring. Ladd took to her social media on Sunday to make the callout of Pena, in response to a tweet of Pena calling out UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

Adam D Martin - January 31, 2021

UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori says he plans on taking the “European crown” from rival Darren Till when they meet in April. Vettori takes on Till in the main event of an upcoming UFC Fight Night event slated for April 10 in Las Vegas. It’s a battle between the Italian Vettori and the Brit Till, and the fact both men are from Europe adds an additional layer of intrigue to this contest. Taking to his social media in the days after the fight was officially announced, Vettori posted a promotional poster of the matchup on his Instagram, adding that the winner of this upcoming bout will wear the “European crown.”

Adam D Martin - January 31, 2021

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao believes that Conor McGregor underestimated Dustin Poirier heading into their main event rematch at UFC 257. McGregor entered the rematch with Poirier as a huge betting favorite yet lost in shocking fashion when he suffered a brutal second-round knockout loss. McGregor and Poirier previously met back at UFC 178 in September 2014, with McGregor winning that fight by first-round knockout. It’s because he won the first meeting between the pair that Pacquiao believes that McGregor underestimated Poirier.