MMA News
Dana White explains why Floyd Mayweather talks went nowhere: "The world imploded"
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White gave an update on the lack of talks with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, saying it’s because “the world imploded.” White and Mayweather were famously photographed sitting courtside at an LA Clippers vs. Boston Celtics NBA game in Los Angeles. But that was back in December 2019, well before COVID-19 caused a global pandemic. White had said at the time of the meeting that he had an agreement with Mayweather to work together in 2020, but that never happened. White said last summer that he had some talks going on with Mayweather, but so far, those talks have gone nowhere.
Zabit Magomedsharipov will fight in the next three months, says Dana White
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White said that featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov will fight again within the next three months. The Russian had a nightmarish 2020 as he didn’t fight at all due to a proposed bout with Yair Rodriguez falling through on two occasions. The UFC keeps trying to book this awesome matchup, but it keeps falling apart. The promotion actually tried to book it way back at UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till in September 2018, but Rodriguez withdrew due to injury. The two were re-booked to fight at UFC Vegas in August 2020, but Rodriguez once again withdrew due to injury. The UFC was hoping to match them up for an event this past October, but that fight also fell through.
Dana White reveals getting lone loss removed from Jon Jones' record is "not looking good"
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2021
UFC president, Dana White has revealed he is having a hard time getting the lone loss removed from Jon Jones’ record. The former UFC light heavyweight champion has never truly lost, as his only loss on his record came in his 10th fight as he was disqualified due to illegal elbows. However, it was a controversial DQ and since the event, White has made it clear he wanted to get the loss overturned to a no-contest.
Max Holloway sends a warning to Calvin Kattar for saying he's the better striker: "Come find out"
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2021
Max Holloway doesn’t buy all the talk that Calvin Kattar is the best striker in the featherweight division. In the main event of UFC Fight Island 7, Holloway is set to return to the Octagon against rising contender, Calvin Kattar, which should be a phenomenal fight. Both men are elite strikers, with many saying Kattar has the best boxing at featherweight. However, for Holloway, he believes he is still the guy at 145-pounds and is still the best striker in the division.
Dana White not ruling out immediate title shot for TJ Dillashaw
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC president Dana White says he is not ruling out an immediate title shot for former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Dillashaw is set to return from his two-year suspension by USADA in January 2019 for performance-enhancing drugs. The former bantamweight kingpin recently shared photos of his current physique, and he looks like he’s ready to come back and dominate. Considering he’s a big name in the division and a former champion, we’ve seen fighters such as Jose Aldo and Rob Font call him out. They are both top-10 opponents, but it’s possible Dillashaw is chasing after even bigger fish.
Alessio Di Chirico expects to derail the hype of Joaquin Buckley and remain a UFC fighter
Cole Shelton - January 11, 2021
Alessio Di Chirico knows his UFC Fight Island 7 fight against Joaquin Buckley is do-or-die for his UFC career. Di Chirico is on a three-fight losing streak and many were surprised he was fighting Buckley who is on a winning streak. However, the Italian was excited when he got the call to fight Buckley.
Weili Zhang could make next title defense in Asia, says Dana White
Adam Martin - January 11, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang could make her next title defense in Asia, according to UFC president Dana White. Zhang is one of the top female fighters in the sports and she is looking to make a grand return to the Octagon in 2021, following a “Fight of the Year” performance against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 in March 2020. Zhang was not able to fight again following the COVID-19 pandemic, but she is hoping to fight again in the next few months. While most assumed she would make her next title defense in Las Vegas or on Fight Island, there is now a chance she could fight in Asia instead.
Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya should happen at light heavyweight, says Dana White
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC President Dana White believes a potential fight between Jon Jones and Israel Adesanya should happen in the light heavyweight division, not at heavyweight. Jones and Adesanya are two of the biggest stars in MMA at present, and White has made no secret of his interest in a fight between them. That being said, it’s unclear what weight class this potential superfight would occur in.
Dana White reflects on being "in a really bad place" with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC President Dana White says he’s repaired his relationship with Conor McGregor after being in “a bad place” with the Irishman last year. White and McGregor have butted heads several times over the years, most recently in mid-2020, when the Irish MMA star released some of his DMs with the UFC boss. Unsurprisingly, White was upset that what he believed was a private conversation was leaked to the public, particularly because he and McGregor were speaking about aging UFC veteran Diego Sanchez.
Photos | See how Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier have transformed since their first fight
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC lightweight contenders Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier both look very different than they did ahead of their first fight. McGregor and Poirier, the No. 4 and 2-ranked lightweights respectively, are slated to collide in the main event of UFC 257 on January 23. The bout will be a rematch of a 2014 featherweight fight, which McGregor won by first-round knockout.
Tito Ortiz reflects on last fight, says he's "getting ready to go again"
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
Tito Ortiz currently has his hands full with his duties as the Mayor Pro Tem of Huntington Beach, California, but he still intends to fight again. Ortiz, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, last fought in December, 2019, when he submitted former pro wrestler Alberto Del Rio under the Combate Americas banner.
Dustin Poirier plans to fight "eight more times" before considering retirement
Tom Taylor - January 11, 2021
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier plans to compete at least eight more times before giving retirement too much thought. Poirier, who currently holds the No. 2 spot in the UFC lightweight rankings, is gearing up for a fight with former two-division champion Conor McGregor, which will headline the UFC 257 card on January 23.
UFC files applications with the NSAC to hold four events in February
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2021
The UFC has filed applications with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to promote four proposed events in the month of February. The UFC has been in an ongoing cycle over the course of the last nine months between hosting events in Nevada and hosting events in Abu Dhabi – outside of their brief stint in Florida, of course.
Conor McGregor shares bold prediction for rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257
Harry Kettle - January 11, 2021
UFC star Conor McGregor has made an incredibly brave prediction ahead of his rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor is set to return to the Octagon for the first time in twelve months, hoping to build off of his dominant welterweight win over Donald Cerrone last January. Dustin Poirier, on the other hand, is coming off the back of an electric decision victory against divisional rival Dan Hooker.
Diego Sanchez announces his next fight will be his last
Adam Martin - January 10, 2021
UFC legend Diego Sanchez announced on social media that his next fight inside the Octagon will be the final fight of his career. Sanchez has been criticized in recent years by fans and media for fighting too long considering the amount of head trauma he’s endured over his 15 years in the Octagon. A member of the UFC roster since 2005, Sanchez is by far the longest-tenured fighter the promotion has under contract. But at age 39 and coming off of several lackluster performances, including a lopsided decision defeat to Jake Matthews at UFC 253, it appears as though Sanchez is finally ready to hang ’em up.
Marlon Moraes to undergo shoulder surgery, vows to "start over" after back-to-back losses
Adam Martin - January 10, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Marlon Moraes is set to undergo shoulder surgery, vowing to “start over” after losing back-to-back fights. It wasn’t long ago that Moraes was the No. 1 contender in the UFC bantamweight division. But after losing back-to-back fights by knockout to Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font to end 2020, he’s now fallen all the way down to No. 7 in the UFC. Remember, Moraes was set to fight UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan at one point in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. So the fact that Moraes has now dropped all the way out of the title conversation at 135lbs is downright shocking.
Dana White on Robert Whittaker: "I don’t think he’s going to get a title shot next"
Adam Martin - January 10, 2021
UFC president Dana White hinted that Robert Whittaker will have to fight again, saying “I don’t think he’s going to get a title shot next.” After beating Jared Cannonier at UFC 254, most figured that the UFC matchmakers would look to book a rematch between Whittaker and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, the man who took his title back at UFC 243. Instead, Adesanya is moving up to fight UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in March. That leaves Whittaker in a tough position because he’s done enough to earn a rematch against Adesanya, but at the same time, the champ may not return to 185lbs.
Photo | Father of Amanda Ribas gets tattoo of daughter's first UFC win
Adam Martin - January 10, 2021
Marcelo Ribas, the father of UFC women’s strawweight contender Amanda Ribas, got a tattoo of his daughter celebrating her first UFC win. In June 2019, Ribas made her UFC debut when she submitted Emily Whitmire for her first win inside the Octagon. Her father, Marcelo Ribas, was so moved by the moment that he decided to get a tattoo to commemorate the moment. MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz spoke to the elder Ribas, who explained his decision to get the tattoo while providing a photo of his ink. It’s also worth pointing out that in addition to being Amanda’s father, he is also her coach.