MMA News
Justin Gaethje interested in fighting Nate Diaz if UFC offers it
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2021
Justin Gaethje says he has not been offered Nate Diaz but would be open to the fight. Recently, UFC president, Dana White revealed Diaz would be returning to lightweight and would fight a top contender. Many thought that would be Gaethje but he says he was not offered him and thought maybe Diaz can fight Diego Sanchez.
Ben Saunders reveals Bellator and Bjorn Rebney almost made him retire
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2021
Ben Saunders was close to walking away from MMA in 2012 and 2013. After Saunders’ first stint in the UFC, he signed with Bellator. The hope for Saunders was to win a Bellator tournament and become the face of the promotion or eventually get back to the UFC. However, throughout his time in the promotion, he realized Bellator and Bjorn Rebney had him in a horrible contract that nearly made him walk away from the sport.
Curtis Blaydes expects to wrestle Derrick Lewis "until he breaks"
Cole Shelton - January 28, 2021
Curtis Blaydes has a specific gameplan for his upcoming main event fight against Derrick Lewis. On February 20, Blaydes and Lewis will finally fight after their bout on November 20 was postponed due to Blaydes testing positive for COVID-19. Now that “Razor” is healthy he says he is eager to fight Lewis as he knows there is a clear path to victory.
Charles Oliveira hoping to fight Dustin Poirier in May or June, predicts submission win
Adam Martin - January 28, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Charles Oliveira is hoping to fight Dustin Poirier in May or June for the title, and he is promising a submission. In the wake of Poirier’s knockout win over Conor McGregor at UFC 257 — and with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov liking set to retire and vacate his belt any day now — there has been strong support for a Poirier vs. Oliveira vacant title fight among fans and media. It’s a fight that Oliveira himself badly wants, too.
City council members seek to remove Tito Ortiz for lack of "honor and dignity"
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
Several Huntington Beach City Council members are seeking to remove former UFC champ Tito Ortiz from his position as Mayor Pro Tem of the city. Ortiz was elected onto Huntington Beach City Council last year, and was subsequently selected to serve as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. Regrettably, his time in office has been marred by a long list of serious blunders and embarrassments.
Gilbert Burns: I will finish Kamaru Usman at UFC 258
Adam Martin - January 28, 2021
Gilbert Burns is confident that he will be the new UFC welterweight champion, boldly predicting he will finish Kamaru Usman at UFC 258. Burns and Usman had been booked to fight twice previously, at UFC 251 last July and then again at UFC 256. The first time the fight fell apart was due to Burns testing positive for COVID-19, and the second time it was due to Burns needing more time to heal from injuries. The two are now booked to fight for the third time and they are set to meet in the main event of UFC 258, on February 13 in Las Vegas.
Geoff Neal calls out Li Jingliang
Adam Martin - January 28, 2021
After losing a decision to Stephen Thompson his last time out, UFC welterweight contender Geoff Neal now has his sights set on Li Jingliang. After missing a year of action due to health issues, Neal finally returned to the Octagon in the main event of UFC Vegas 17 back in December. In his first five-round UFC fight, Neal was able to go the distance with an elite opponent in Thompson, ultimately losing a unanimous decision. Despite the loss, however, Neal is still a top-15 ranked opponent, coming in at No. 11 in the UFC. Right behind him at No. 12 is Jingliang — fresh off a KO win over Santiago Ponzinibbio — and Neal wants him next.
Jake Paul drills 4-second KO punch with Jorge Masvidal
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
Jake Paul is already training for his April 17 boxing match with Ben Askren, and he’s enlisted the help of UFC star Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal fought Askren in 2019, knocking the wrestling specialist out with a flying knee in just five seconds. It was the fastest knockout in UFC history. In anticipation of his April boxing match with Askren, Paul has moved to Miami to pick Masvidal’s brain. The pair are already working together, and drilling attacks that Paul hopes will beat Askren even faster than Masvidal did.
Jorge Masvidal needs "very big, very entertaining" fight, says coach
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
American Top Team coach Mike Brown believes UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has earned a marquee fight. Masvidal has not fought since July, when he lost a decision to Kamaru Usman in a short-notice welterweight title fight. Prior to that, he was riding stoppage wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz, which turned him into one of the sport’s biggest stars.
Justin Gaethje "will think about never fighting in the UFC again" if Conor McGregor gets title shot
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
Justin Gaethje would consider walking away from the UFC forever if Conor McGregor is granted an immediate lightweight title shot. McGregor fought in the main event of UFC 257 last weekend, when he was knocked out by Dustin Poirier. With this result, McGregor and Poirier entered into a 1-1 tie, as McGregor beat Poirier by first-round knockout in the featherweight division in 2014.
Dillon Danis trashes Michael Bisping over Paul bros criticism: "Stay in the commentary booth where it’s safe"
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
Bellator star Dillon Danis has some choice words for former UFC middleweight champion turned MMA analyst Michael Bisping. Danis has spent the last few months angling for a boxing match with YouTube star turned pro boxer Jake Paul. While Paul recently signed on for a boxing match with former UFC fighter Ben Askren, Danis hasn’t relented in his callouts of the YouTuber.
Marc Goddard sends message to "cold and cynical souls" who kick fighters when they're down
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
Veteran mixed martial arts referee Marc Goddard has a message for fans who berate fighters when they’re riding tough losses. Goddard took to Twitter to share this message over the weekend, seemingly in response to Conor McGregor’s shocking, second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier.
Jairzinho Rozenstruik welcomes future fight with Jon Jones
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2021
UFC heavyweight contender Jairzinho Rozenstruik is interested in a future fight with former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Jones ruled over the UFC light heavyweight division for many years, but recently vacated his title with plans to make a permanent move up to the heavyweight division.
Dustin Poirier sees large boost in social media following after defeating Conor McGregor
Drake Riggs - January 27, 2021
In the past, the few fighters that have defeated Conor McGregor have gone on to become superstars in their own right. Perhaps Dustin Poirier is next? Well, social media metrics from the UFC 257 event would indicate that things are trending in the right direction for “The Diamond”.
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa opening betting odds released
Adam Martin - January 27, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming middleweight bout between top contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. It was announced this week that Whittaker and Costa will meet in a five-round, non-title main event at a UFC Fight Night event scheduled for April 17. Both men had conveyed interest in an interim or vacant title fight with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya fighting up at 205lbs in his next bout, but the promotion decided to just make it a non-title five-rounder, with the winner likely in line for a title shot.
Rafael dos Anjos says he's a bad matchup for Conor McGregor: "I use a lot of those calf kicks"
Adam Martin - January 27, 2021
UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos says he’s a bad matchup for Conor McGregor, suggesting he would utilize a lot of calf kicks if they fought. Dos Anjos and McGregor were originally supposed to meet back at UFC 196 in March 2016, but dos Anjos pulled out of the fight due to injury. He was replaced by Nate Diaz, which led to one of the greatest moments of all time when Diaz tapped McGregor out. Instead of fighting McGregor in a money fight that day, dos Anjos instead didn’t get that fight, and then he lost his title in his very next outing in an upset to Eddie Alvarez, while McGregor and Diaz exploded into mega superstars.
Michael Chandler believes people can't "overlook" Ben Askren against Jake Paul
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2021
Michael Chandler knows Jake Paul picked Ben Askren for a reason, but he believes people can’t overlook “Funky” in their fight. On April 17, Paul is set for his third professional boxing match against Askren in what should be a very intriguing bout. This will be the first time Paul fights a legit fighter, as his other two wins are over a YouTuber and an ex-NBA player.
Justin Gaethje "loved" seeing Conor McGregor get knocked out: "There is nothing that makes me happier"
Cole Shelton - January 27, 2021
Justin Gaethje was very happy to see Conor McGregor get knocked out by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. Throughout McGregor’s career, he has been full of trash talk, but in his last two fights that have changed. However, the Irishman and Gaethje have still taken shots at one another, and many thought they would fight last year, but it never came to fruition. After all the talk, “The Highlight” says he loved seeing a loudmouth like McGregor get knocked out.