MMA News
Dana White: Jon Jones gets winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
UFC president Dana White says Jon Jones will get the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. Jones vacated the UFC light heavyweight title last summer, announcing a move up to heavyweight for 2021 after a decade of dominance at 205lbs. Some thought he might even skip by Ngannou in the title shot queue, but the UFC is rightfully giving Ngannou the next crack at the belt. It was revealed over the weekend that the UFC is targeting Miocic and Ngannou to hold their rematch at UFC 260 on March 27, and Jones may face the winner of that bout.
What's next for Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar after UFC Fight Island 7?
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
In the main event of UFC Fight Island 7, Max Holloway was looking to snap his two-fight losing skid as he took on rising contender, Calvin Kattar. Holloway was looking to prove he is the best featherweight alive, while Kattar was hoping to become the next title contender. Ultimately, it was Holloway who put on a dominant performance and set several records en route to a lopsided decision win.
Michael Chandler explains why Dan Hooker is a tougher matchup than McGregor, Poirier, and Gaethje
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
Michael Chandler believes Dan Hooker is one of the tougher matchups for him in the UFC. In the co-main event of UFC 257, Chandler is set to make his UFC debut against Hooker in a very intriguing bout. It is a top-10 opponent for the former Bellator champ and a tough test for him. Although Hooker is not ranked in the top-three, Chandler believes the Kiwi is a tougher challenger than Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.
Conor McGregor says rematch against Dustin Poirier will be “easy," but not as easy as running things back with Khabib
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2021
Conor McGregor is set for his second-ever rematch when he battles Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor and Poirier met in 2014 with the Irishman winning by first-round knockout. Although many believe this fight will be closer, McGregor doesn’t agree. He is expecting the rematch to be easy, but not as easy as a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov would be.
Photo | Francis Ngannou looking monstrous as Stipe Miocic training camp begins
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Top contender Francis Ngannou is already jacked ahead of his upcoming rematch with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Ngannou gets his long-awaited rematch with Miocic at UFC 260, which is set to take place on March 27. Since losing a unanimous decision to Miocic at UFC 220 in January 2018, Ngannou has won four straight fights by knockout to earn another crack at the title. As for Miocic, he’s coming off of back-to-back wins over Daniel Cormier in their trilogy. It stands to figure that the winner of Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 will be in line to get a super fight with Jon Jones.
UFC on ESPN 20: Chiesa vs. Magny full betting odds
Adam Martin - January 18, 2021
Check out the full betting odds for this Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 20 event headlined by welterweight contenders Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny. In the main event, Chiesa and Magny will duke it out for five rounds or less in a fight that could see the winner get a significant step up in the UFC welterweight division. Chiesa and Magny are both riding three-fight win streaks and they are ranked right next to each other at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. This is the perfect matchup between two well-rounded welterweights on the rise, and the winner should get a top-five opponent.
Calvin Kattar issues classy statement after lopsided loss to Max Holloway
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Calvin Kattar has issued a classy post-fight statement after a tough loss to former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway. Kattar and Holloway collided in the main event of the UFC on ABC 1 card last Saturday on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
UFC on ABC 1 medical suspension: Calvin Kattar facing long absence
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
The post-fight medical suspensions for last Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 card have been released, and as expected, several fighters are facing long breaks, including Calvin Kattar. Kattar lost a decision to former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in the UFC on ABC 1 main event, absorbing north of 400 significant strikes in the process. Unsurprisingly, those figures translated into some significant physical damage, which has him facing a six-month suspension unless he’s cleared earlier by a doctor.
Floyd Mayweather "knows he would lose" McGregor, Pacquiao rematches, says manager
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Audie Attar, the manager behind Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao, believes Floyd Mayweather would lose to both men if he fought them in 2020. Mayweather holds wins over both Pacquiao and McGregor. He fought Pacquiao in 2015, winning a decision in a fight that was widely panned for its lack of action. He then fought McGregor in 2017, in the UFC star’s boxing debut, and picked up a 10th-round TKO win.
Shinya Aoki has singular goal ahead of ONE Championship return: "Fight as long as I can"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Shinya Aoki is no longer motivated by money or world titles. The Japanese MMA legend strives only to continue doing what he loves as long as possible. Aoki, one of the most lethal submissions in MMA history, is set to return to action at ONE: Unbreakable next Friday in Singapore, where he’ll welcome former LFA welterweight champion James Nakashima to the lightweight division.
Dustin Poirier unfazed by Conor McGregor's KO prediction: I will not "put myself in harm’s way right off the bat"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier knows he needs to be careful in the early rounds of his upcoming fight with Conor McGregor. Poirier and McGregor will collide in the main event of UFC 257 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The pair’s lightweight showdown will be a rematch of a 2014 featherweight fight that McGregor won by first-round knockout.
Conor McGregor admits retirement was "out of frustration"
Tom Taylor - January 18, 2021
Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor admits his 2020 retirement announcement was partly out of frustration. McGregor returned to the Octagon in January, 2020, when he picked up a blistering, 40-second TKO victory over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. In the lead-up to that fight, McGregor teased a busy 2020, making no secret of his desire to fight multiple times before the year ended.
Max Holloway rewrote the UFC record books in his masterful win over Calvin Kattar
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2021
UFC featherweight Max Holloway made history in a multitude of ways courtesy of his magnificent win over Calvin Kattar this past weekend. In more ways than one, “Blessed” really did set a whole new standard for the division with one of the most dominant wins in divisional history on Fight Island. Now, it seems almost inevitable that he’ll fight the winner of the upcoming Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega bout for the UFC Featherweight Championship.
Mike Perry sends a "thank you" to all the fans who helped him "run miles, and spar gladiators daily in practice"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC welterweight standout Mike Perry (14-7 MMA) has once again taken to social media with some harsh words for fight fans. ‘Platinum’ has gone just 1-3 over his past four Octagon appearances, his latest effort resulting in a unanimous decision loss to Tim Means at UFC 255.
Conor McGregor claims Khabib Nurmagomedov proved he's "not a true fighter" by retiring following win over Justin Gaethje
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Conor McGregor says Khabib Nurmagomedov “showed his hand” by retiring at UFC 254, claiming ‘The Eagle’ is “not a true fighter”. McGregor, who is set to return to the Octagon against Dustin Poirier at next weekend’s UFC 257 event, went off on his bitter rival during a recent interview with ESPN.
Dana White reacts after Tom Brady leads Bucs past the Saints: "Now I don’t have to listen to DC's BIG MOUTH TALKIN SH*T anymore"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
UFC President Dana White is a longtime supporter of the New England Patriots, in particular their former quarterback Tom Brady. Brady joined Tampa Bay this offseason in hopes of leading the Bucs to their first playoff win since 2003, when the squad last won the Super Bowl.
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes during UFC 257 press conference with Conor McGregor: "You don’t want to get 'Who the fook is that guy’d'"
Christopher Taylor - January 17, 2021
Dan Hooker plans to be on his toes for the upcoming UFC 257 press conference which includes brash former ‘champ champ’ Conor McGregor. The perennial lightweight contender, Hooker (20-9 MMA), is set to square off with former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in next weekend’s co-headliner.
Joe Rogan blown away by "superman" Max Holloway, "complete savage" Calvin Kattar
Adam Martin - January 17, 2021
UFC analyst Joe Rogan says he was blown away by Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar’s performances in the main event of UFC on ABC 1. Rogan wasn’t on Fight Island to commentate the UFC’s latest trip to Abu Dhabi, but he’s still watching the events at home. The first of the three Fight Island cards featured Holloway and Kattar in a featherweight main event that headlined UFC on ABC 1. The fight turned out to be a complete beatdown for five rounds as Holloway put on an unworldly performance, setting several records along the way, while Kattar showed that he truly has an iron chin.