MMA News

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov heaped praise on Justin Gaethje during today’s meeting with Dana White on Fight Island. The undefeated Russian, Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA), met with the UFC President earlier today in Abu Dhabi to discuss his future. ‘The Eagle’ had of course stunned fans by announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts immediately following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje this past September.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

Former lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz took aim at Khabib Nurmagomedov on Saturday, this after ‘The Eagle’ met with UFC President Dana White. During today’s UFC Fight Island 7 broadcast, White met with Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA) in hopes of luring him back to the Octagon for one final fight.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

UFC President Dana White met with undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov during today’s UFC Fight Island 7 broadcast. Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA) had retired from mixed martial arts immediately following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. ‘The Eagle’ cited the death of his father as one of the major reasons behind his decision to walk away.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

Today’s UFC Fight Island 7 event was headlined by a featherweight bout featuring former champ Max Holloway taking on surging contender Calvin Kattar. Holloway (21-6 MMA) was looking to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career when he squared of with Kattar this evening. ‘Blessed‘ was coming off of back-to-back decision losses to reigning featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski in his most previous Octagon appearances.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

Today’s UFC Fight Island 7 event was co-headlined by a welterweight bout featuring fan favorites Matt Brown and Carlos Condit. Brown (22-17 MMA) was returning to action for the fist time since May, where he suffered a TKO to Miguel Baeza. Prior to that setback, ‘The Immortal‘ was coming off of back-to-back knockout wins over Diego Sanchez and Ben Saunders.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

Today’s UFC Fight Island 7 event is co-headlined by a welterweight bout featuring fan favorites Matt Brown and Carlos Condit. Brown (22-17 MMA) will be returning to action for the fist time since May, where he suffered a TKO to Miguel Baeza. Prior to that setback, ‘The Immortal‘ was coming off of back-to-back knockout wins over Diego Sanchez and Ben Saunders.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

A welterweight bout featuring Santiago Ponzinibbio taking on Li Jingliang took place on the main card of today’s UFC Fight Island 7 event. Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since November of 2018, where he had scored a sensational knockout victory over Neil Magny. The Argentinian standout is currently riding a seven-fight win streak, which includes victories over Mike Perry, Gunnar Nelson and Court McGee.

Chris Taylor - January 16, 2021

A welterweight bout featuring Santiago Ponzinibbio taking on Li Jingliang takes place on the main card of today’s UFC Fight Island 7 event. Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since November of 2018, where he had scored a sensational knockout victory over Neil Magny. The Argentinian standout is currently riding a seven-fight win streak, which includes victories over Mike Perry, Gunnar Nelson and Court McGee.

Drake Riggs - January 15, 2021

The 2021 UFC schedule kicks off beginning on Jan. 16. While many title fights have already found their spots, March looks to get not one but two. UFC Fight Island 7 starts a three-event stretch spanning across one week. Followed by UFC Fight Island 8, the first UFC pay-per-view of the year, UFC 257, will close things out.

Adam Martin - January 15, 2021

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler says he would pick up an “out of shape” Nate Diaz and slam him on his neck if they ever fight. Chandler is set to make his UFC debut next Saturday on Fight Island when he takes on Dan Hooker in the co-main event of UFC 257. Chandler is completely focused on Hooker and knows that his UFC future depends on him getting the win in that one, but that doesn’t mean fans and media aren’t looking ahead to other opponents. During an AMA on his Instagram Live, one fan asked Chandler what he thinks about a potential fight with Diaz. This is what “Iron” had to say about the Stockton native.

Cole Shelton - January 15, 2021

Ike Villanueva knows he enters his UFC Fight Island 8 fight in a must-win scenario. Villaneuva is currently 0-2 in the UFC, but his first loss against Chase Sherman should be overturned to a no-contest due to Sherman being flagged by USADA. However, Villaneuva knows he still lost that fight, and in his last one, lost by cut stoppage which was heartbreaking for him.

Cole Shelton - January 15, 2021

The UFC is set to kick off 2021 with a bang as they will hold three-events in a week. The main events of the three cards see Max Holloway take on Calvin Kattar, Neil Magny vs. Michael Chiesa, and Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 2. However, for UFC commentator, Brendan Fitzgerald, he knows those are good fights but says Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell has all the capabilities of being the best fight of the week.

Adam Martin - January 15, 2021

Former UFC fighter Eric Spicely was brutally knocked out in vicious fashion in Abu Dhabi with UFC president Dana White sitting in attendance. In his first fight since being released by the UFC last summer for failing to make weight for a UFC Vegas event, Spicely took on Rinat Fakhretdinov at UAE Warriors 15. In his first fight since June 2019, Spicely suffered an absolutely brutal KO loss to Fakhretdinov. The Russian landed a massive overhand right that absolutely floored Spicely in a vicious fashion, with some calling it similar to Dan Henderson’s infamous KO blow over Michael Bisping at UFC 100. Watch the video below (h/t Caposa).

Cole Shelton - January 15, 2021

Cody Stamann will remain on the February 6 card but will not fight Merab Dvalishvili. Multiple sources have informed BJPENN.com that Andre Ewell has agreed to replace Dvalishvili and face Stamann on February 6. Contracts have yet to be sent out, but are expected to in the coming days. The event will also take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Adam Martin - January 15, 2021

UFC president Dana White confirmed that the winner of Saturday’s main event between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar could earn a title shot. Holloway and Kattar meet in the five-round headliner of UFC on ABC 1 in a battle between the No. 1 and No. 6 ranked fighters, respectively, at 145lbs. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to take on Brian Ortega in his next title defense, but there are plenty of other contenders hot on his trails. According to White, both Holloway and Kattar will have the opportunity to earn the No. 1 contender spot in the featherweight division with a big win on Saturday.

Tom Taylor - January 15, 2021

UFC President Dana White says Khabib Nurmagomedov will need to vacate the UFC lightweight title if he wants to fight Georges St-Pierre. Nurmagomedov retired after his last fight, a submission win over Justin Gaethje, but White has been adamant that he’ll attempt to bring the undefeated Russian back for one more fight before all is said and done.

Tom Taylor - January 15, 2021

UFC President Dana White and undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov finally sat down for a long-awaited meeting on Friday. See the pair sitting down for their talk below:

Tom Taylor - January 15, 2021

Former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos wants a rematch with Nate Diaz, and he’s willing to offer his rival a handicap to make the fight happen. Generally speaking, fighters don’t angle for rematches with opponents they’ve already beaten, but that’s the case this time around.