MMA News
MMA community reacts to Ottman Azaitar being cut from UFC for safety violation
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
The MMA community had some very interesting reactions to Ottman Azaitar being released from the UFC for a safety violation. Azaitar, who was slated to take on Matt Frevola on the main card of UFC 257 tomorrow, was cut by the promotion on Friday after he and his team attempted to smuggle people into the promotion’s bubble on Fight Island.
Claressa Shields gives update on timeframe for PFL debut
Adam Martin - January 22, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields gave an update as to when she will be making her mixed martial arts debut with PFL. Shields shocked many in the combat sports world when she decided to sign with the PFL over the UFC. She had been connected to the UFC for two years and had reportedly even been offered a chance to fight UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in her UFC and MMA debut. However, Shields decided that PFL was the better opportunity for her to get her feet wet, and so she decided to take her talents to PFL instead of fighting in the UFC.
Dana White calls Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier the biggest non-title fight in UFC history
Adam Martin - January 22, 2021
UFC president Dana White called this weekend’s rematch between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier the biggest non-title fight in UFC history. UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 takes place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. Unsurprisingly, White has already said that the pay-per-view is trending in the right direction, and it could potentially sell upwards of two million PPVs. Even though there is no title on the line, the fact that McGregor is competing is automatically a huge boost for the PPV, and the fact that he’s fighting a stud like Poirier makes this weekend’s main event a must-watch.
ONE Championship announces next fights for Eddie Alvarez, Demetrious Johnson
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
ONE Championship has announced the next fights for former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The promotion announced these fights during Friday’s ONE: Unbreakable broadcast.
Ottman Azaitar cut from UFC for attempting to smuggle people into Fight Island bubble
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
Unbeaten lightweight Ottman Azaitar, who was slated to fight Matt Frevola on Saturday’s UFC 257 card, has been cut from the UFC after attempting to smuggle people into the promotion’s Fight Island bubble. Throughout the pandemic, the UFC has promoted a long list of exciting events on Fight Island—Yas Island in Abu Dhabi—but that’s only been possible due to rigorous safety protocols that strictly limit who is allowed into the bubble.
Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier have tense staredown ahead of UFC 257 rematch
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
On Friday morning, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier came face-to-face for a final time ahead of their hotly anticipated rematch. McGregor and Poirier will collide in the lightweight main event of UFC 257 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The bout will be a rematch of a 2014 featherweight fight that McGregor won by first-round knockout.
Conor McGregor keeps promise, makes massive donation to Dustin Poirier's charity
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
Conor McGregor has followed through on a previous promise, and will be making a $500,000 donation to Dustin Poirier’s charity, The Good Fight Foundation. McGregor and Poirier will collide in the main event of UFC 257, which goes down this Saturday on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
ONE Championship results and highlights: Shinya Aoki sets promotional record with sub of James Nakashima
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to our screens with its first event of 2021—and the card did not disappoint. Titled ONE: Unbreakable, the card emanated from the promotion’s home base of Singapore, and was headlined by a bantamweight kickboxing title between reigning champion Alaverdi Ramazanov and one of the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighters on the planet, Capitan Petchyindee Academy. Capitan won this fight in emphatic fashion in round two, claiming the title for himself.
Wild prop bets available for Saturday’s UFC 257: McGregor vs Poirier 2 event
Harry Kettle - January 22, 2021
A series of entertaining prop bets are available for the upcoming UFC 257 event this weekend and, more specifically, Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2. Many football fans will know that the most common event for big prop bets is the Super Bowl, whether it be the length of the national anthem or who wins the coin toss. Now, though, as McGregor’s popularity continues to go from strength to strength, every fight of his is starting to feel like an absolutely huge event.
Daniel Cormier says the hype of Conor McGregor got to Cowboy at UFC 246: “Cerrone of the old would never have lost in 40 seconds”
Harry Kettle - January 22, 2021
UFC legend Daniel Cormier believes the hype surrounding Conor McGregor affected Donald Cerrone’s performance at UFC 246 last year. McGregor and Cerrone kicked off 2020 with a blockbuster main event that ended in just 40 seconds when the Irishman brutally finished “Cowboy” before the veteran was ever really able to get started.
UFC 257 weigh-in results: McGregor, Poirier hit marks, two fights canceled
Tom Taylor - January 22, 2021
The lightweight main event of UFC 257 is official, but two fights on the card have unfortunately been canceled. UFC 257, which goes down on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, will be the promotion’s first pay-per-view offering of 2021. The card will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. This will be the second time the pair meet in the cage, as McGregor knocked Poirier out in a featherweight fight back in 2014. Heading into their rematch, the expectation is that the winner will be well positioned for a shot at the lightweight title.
Daniel Cormier refutes Al Iaquinta's claims regarding Dustin Poirier ahead of UFC 257
Christopher Taylor - January 21, 2021
Former UFC champ-champ Daniel Cormier has refuted the claims made by Al Iaquinta regarding Dustin Poirier ahead of UFC 257. ‘Raging Al’ had previously slammed ‘The Diamond’ for his attempts to lure Conor McGregor into a rematch this January.
Dana White provides further information on illegal streamer bust: "We're watching his house, we're listening to his phone conversations"
Christopher Taylor - January 21, 2021
UFC president Dana White has been on a relentless pursuit to crack down on illegal streamers pirating the promotions product. Earlier today, the brash UFC boss announced that an illegal streamer they had been targeting has been busted.
Frankie Edgar reflects on Gray Maynard rematch 10 years later: 'I don't remember much of that fight'
Drake Riggs - January 21, 2021
Together, Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard gave us arguably the greatest trilogy in MMA history. As of the start of 2021, the rematch was 10 years ago. Incredibly, Edgar remains a top contender in the sport today as a 135-pound bantamweight. Yet his claim to fame came at 155-pounds as the UFC lightweight champ. During his run, he and Maynard gave us two of the greatest bouts of all time.
Video | Eminem tells Dana White his opinion doesn’t matter on SportsCenter
Adam Martin - January 21, 2021
Hip-hop star Eminem took a shot at UFC president Dana White during an appearance on ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday. Eminem is one of the most famous artists on the planet and his music is being used during the promos for this weekend’s UFC 257 card. On Thursday, ESPN SportsCenter was able to get the chance to talk to Eminem, and White joined them. Following their appearance on the podcast, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub posted a short clip from the interaction between Eminem and White. Check out what the legendary rapper said to the UFC president.
Michael Chandler: 'There's a lot of people comparing me to Ben Askren'
Drake Riggs - January 21, 2021
Michael Chandler isn’t the first high-profile Bellator champion to make the crossover into the UFC and he surely will not be the last. Among the most notable acquisitions in UFC history, the first that comes to mind will probably be the likes of Eddie Alvarez and Ben Askren — both men that have connections to Chandler. However, each’s level of success varies greatly.
Jon Jones shares more photos of "fat boy life" at 250lbs
Adam Martin - January 21, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones shared more photos of himself living the “fat boy life” at 250lbs. Jones is set to make his heavyweight debut this summer, according to UFC president Dana White, who says he will face the winner of the UFC 260 main event between champion Stipe Miocic and challenger Francis Ngannou. Jones has spent the last six months bulking up in anticipation for his debut in the UFC’s heaviest weight class. In a recent update on my heavyweight transformation, Jones said he weighed in at 250lbs, and he looks the part.
Dan Hooker plans to "spoil" the UFC and Michael Chandler's plans with a "statement" win
Cole Shelton - January 21, 2021
Dan Hooker plans to ruin the UFC and Michael Chandler’s plans just one-fight into his UFC tenure. In the co-main event of UFC 257, Hooker is set to welcome Michael Chandler to the UFC in a really intriguing bout. Although many top lightweights weren’t wanting to fight Chandler in his debut, Hooker knew it was a chance to steal some of his hype.