MMA News
Glover Teixeira willing to serve as backup for Blachowicz vs. Adesanya fight
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2021
Glover Teixeira is willing to serve as the backup fighter for the upcoming light heavyweight title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz, the UFC light heavyweight champion, is slated to defend his title against Adesanya, the promotion’s middleweight champion, in the main event of UFC 259 on March 6.
Stipe Miocic sends words of warning to Jake and Logan Paul: "Don’t bite off more than you can chew"
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has some words of advice for YouTube stars turned celebrity boxers Jake and Logan Paul. The Paul brothers have been the talk of the combat sports world of late, with Jake riding a violent knockout win over former NBA star Nate Robinson, and Logan gearing up for an exhibition bout with unbeaten boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Dustin Poirier discusses motivations heading into Conor McGregor rematch: "This isn't about payback"
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2021
Dustin Poirier has opened on what’s motivating him heading into his upcoming rematch with Conor McGregor, which headlines UFC 257 on January 23. Poirier and McGregor have fought once before, having met in the featherweight division in 2014. McGregor won that fight by first-round knockout.
Logan Paul pleads with Dana White: "Take me back, I'm not Jake"
Tom Taylor - January 7, 2021
YouTube star turned boxer Logan Paul has a message for Dana White, the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Logan is currently slated for a high profile exhibition bout with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. At the same time, his brother Jake has also been making headlines in the combat world, having recently knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson, and called out a host of MMA stars, most notably former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor.
Henry Cejudo takes a shot at "bum fighter of the year" Deiveson Figueiredo
Adam Martin - January 6, 2021
MMA great Henry Cejudo took another shot at UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, calling him the “bum fighter of the year.” Figueiredo just finished a tremendous campaign in 2020 that saw him win the vacant UFC flyweight champion with a stoppage win over Joseph Benavidez on Fight Island. He also had another win over Benavidez earlier in the year, plus a successful title defense over Alex Perez at UFC 255. Figueiredo then stole the show along with fellow flyweight contender Brandon Moreno when they two put on one of the best fights of the year when they fought to a draw at UFC 256.
Dana White says UFC targeting April for Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou 2
Adam Martin - January 6, 2021
UFC president Dana White says the UFC is targeting April for the rematch between UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou. White confirmed several months ago that Ngannou was next in line to fight Miocic for the belt, and a March date was originally targeted for the rematch between the two heavyweights. However, the date has been pushed back once again after the promotion recently announced Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya are heading UFC 259 in March, and the UFC is now targeting April for Miocic vs. Ngannou. White confirmed as much in a recent Q&A with fans.
Junior Dos Santos still upset about knockout loss to Ciryl Gane: “Like the victim being guilty of crime, theft, murder, or rape”
Adam Martin - January 6, 2021
Junior Dos Santos is still upset about his loss to Ciryl Gane, saying it’s “Like the victim being guilty of crime, theft, murder, or rape.” Dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champion, suffered his fourth straight loss by knockout when he was finished by Gane at UFC 256. Gane landed an elbow on dos Santos right when he turned his head, and the elbow landed partially to the back of the Brazilian’s head. However, the referee felt that because dos Santos was turning his head at the same time that Gane threw the strike, it was considered a legal blow and Gane won via knockout.
Leon Edwards reveals he offered to fight Magny and Chiesa but UFC said no
Cole Shelton - January 6, 2021
Leon Edwards wanted to remain on the January 20 fight card. Originally, Edwards was set to headline the card against Khamzat Chimaev but the Swede was still recovering from COVID-19 so the fight was off. After the news was reported, Edwards sent out a tweet letting everyone know he still will fight on the card. However, when the dust settled, Edwards was off the card and Neil Magny will face Michael Chiesa in the main event.
Anthony Pettis wants to be trailblazer for the future of free agency in MMA
Adam Martin - January 6, 2021
Newly-signed PFL lightweight Anthony Pettis says he wants to be a trailblazer for the future of free agency in the sport of MMA. Pettis, the former UFC lightweight champion, became a free agent for the first time in his career after finishing out his previous contract with decision wins over Alex Morono and Donald Cerrone. Many expected Pettis to either re-up with the UFC on another contract or to join his brother Sergio Pettis in Bellator, but he instead decided to sign with PFL, where “Showtime” joins the likes of other former UFC champions in Fabricio Werdum and Rory MacDonald there.
Photos | Bethe Correia shares graphic photos following emergency appendectomy
Adam Martin - January 6, 2021
UFC women’s bantamweight Bethe Correia shared graphic photos following an emergency appendectomy after being diagnosed with appendicitis. Correia was set to fight Yanan Wu at the upcoming UFC on ABC 1 event on January 16, but the Brazilian will have to wait a while longer for her retirement bout. The former bantamweight title challenger took to social media on Wednesday to share the tough news with her fans that she had an emergency appendectomy and will not be able to fight Wu. She shared graphic photos and videos from the surgery, which you can view below via Correia’s Instagram.
Daniel Cormier explains what Dustin Poirier needs to do to "give himself a chance" in McGregor rematch
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2021
Daniel Cormier believes Dustin Poirier must convince himself he “just got caught” in his first fight with Conor McGregor if he hopes to win their imminent rematch. McGregor and Poirier first fought in the featherweight division in 2014, with McGregor winning by first-round knockout. The pair are now set to rematch in the main event of UFC 257 on January 23, this time meeting in the lightweight division.
Alexander Volkanovski admits he's growing tired of "annoying" Max Holloway trilogy talk
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2021
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski admits he’s growing tired of discussing a potential trilogy fight with Max Holloway. Volkanovski is riding back-to-back decision wins over Holloway. The first, a fairly decisive unanimous decision, occured in late 2019, and earned Volkanovski the featherweight strap. The second, a split decision that occurred in July, was much more controversial, but nonetheless marked a successful title defense for the champion.
Dana White: "Rankings are very important" to UFC matchmaking
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2021
UFC President Dana White says the promotion’s controversial official rankings are very important to its matchmaking strategy. The UFC rankings have been the subject of controversy at many points since they were introduced. Most notably, it was revealed in 2019 that many of the media members that vote on the UFC rankings do not even regularly cover the sport.
Mike Perry, Latory Gonzalez welcome baby boy after "scare" at hospital
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2021
UFC welterweight star “Platinum” Mike Perry is officially a father after he and his partner Latory Gonzalez welcomed a baby boy to the world this week. Perry announced this exciting news on Twitter on Wednesday, noting that his son gave them a brief scare at the hospital, but is now in good health.
Fight Circus promoter promises even wilder shows for 2021
Andrew Whitelaw - January 6, 2021
We all know 2020 was a wild year. Needless to say, it wasn’t the best. But there were definitely some MMA highlights. Depending on your tastes, Fight Circus was arguably one of them. Powered by adult streaming site, CamSoda, the Bangkok-based promotion caused quite a stir online.
Cory Sandhagen: It will be "a bummer" if TJ Dillashaw gets immediate title shot
Tom Taylor - January 6, 2021
Cory Sandhagen says it will be “a bummer” if TJ Dillashaw is granted an immediate opportunity to reclaim the UFC bantamweight title. Dillashaw ruled over the bantamweight division for several years, but was stripped of his title after testing positive for EPO, an injectable-only performance enhancing drug. After being stripped and admitting his mistake, Dillashaw was suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. As his suspension nears its conclusion, he’s campaigned for the immediate opportunity to reclaim his title.
Austin Vanderford sheds light on nude photo series with Paige VanZant
Harry Kettle - January 6, 2021
Bellator fighter Austin Vanderford has shed some light on the series of nude photos he’s posted on social media alongside his wife Paige VanZant. The world is a fairly bleak place right now based on the ongoing surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, we need to take a step back from time to time in order to enjoy some of the more light-hearted stories within the media.
Dan Hooker on Michael Chandler: 'They want him to come in and look like the man'
Drake Riggs - January 5, 2021
Dan Hooker fully understands the position he’s in as he gets ready to welcome Michael Chandler to the Octagon at UFC 257 on Jan. 23. In September, it was announced that the former three-time Bellator lightweight king in Chandler had signed with the UFC. Initially acting as the backup to the title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, “Iron Mike” now has a date with a “Hangman” to start his new promotional tenure.