MMA News
Calvin Kattar sends piece of advice to opponent Max Holloway: "To overlook me would be a mistake"
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Rising UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has a piece of advice for his upcoming opponent, the division’s former champion Max Holloway. Kattar and Holloway are slated to collide in the main event of a January 16 card on Fight Island. Heading into the matchup, Kattar has some advice for the former champion: Don’t overlook the challenge at hand.
Claressa Shields explains why she signed with PFL over UFC
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields has explained why she decided to sign with the Professional Fighters League instead of the UFC. Shields, one of the best female boxers ever, has been plotting a move to MMA for some time. She’ll finally make that transition in the PFL cage in 2021–contrary to some interest from the UFC.
Colby Covington questions Jorge Masvidal's "BMF" status amid stalled negotiations
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Colby Covington is questioning Jorge Masvidal’s status as the UFC’s “BMF” champion amid the stalled negotiations for their potential matchup. Covington and Masvidal, former friends turned mortal enemies, have been linked to a fight for months. As of yet, however, the matchup has failed to come to fruition.
Darren Stewart details injuries he sustained in training sessions with Khamzat Chimaev
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Training with Khamzat Chimaev is a physically taxing experience, according to British UFC middleweight contender Darren Stewart. Chimaev was the breakout UFC star of summer, 2020. The Chechen-Swede first picked up two wins in the span of 10 days on Fight Island in July, defeating John Phillips by first-round submission and Rhys McKee by first-round TKO, then picked up his third win of the season when he knocked out Gerald Meerschaert at UFC Vegas 11, also in the first round.
Ben Askren says Jake Paul has gone silent ever since he accepted his fight offer: “He’s a coward”
Harry Kettle - December 28, 2020
Ben Askren has taken aim at YouTuber Jake Paul for “going silent” after Askren accepted his recent offer for a boxing fight. Paul has been picking fights with just about everyone since his knockout win over Nate Robinson, and while the majority have dismissed him as little more than a hype artist, nobody can deny the intrigue that comes with seeing him compete in the ring.
Israel Adesanya named Fighter of the Year at World MMA Awards, full list of winners revealed
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was named winner of the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year award at the World MMA Awards. Adesanya took home the top prize of the night in being voted as the best fighter of the year, and he was among a number of deserving award winners at the 12th World MMA Awards. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 12th edition of the Fighters Only World MMA Awards took place remotely on December 27, 2020. It should be noted the awards timeline for inclusion stretched from January 2019 to July 2020. Check out the full list of this edition’s winning fighters below (via MMAjunkie.com).
Sean O'Malley explains the only way he would fight Marlon Vera again
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley recently explained the only way he would accept a rematch against his bitter rival Marlon Vera. O’Malley and Vera met back at UFC 252 in August, and the Ecuadorian fighter pulled off the upset when he finished O’Malley in the first round with strikes. O’Malley injured his ankle in that fight and Vera took advantage of his ailment by putting him away via TKO. But in the months since that fight took place, O’Malley has refused to accept that it was a legitimate loss. After Vera lost a unanimous decision to Jose Aldo at UFC Vegas 17, O’Malley used it as an opportunity to scoff at his rival Vera.
John Kavanagh: Dustin Poirier has already felt Conor McGregor's KO power
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
Coach John Kavanagh wants the MMA community to remember that Dustin Poirier has already felt Conor McGregor’s knockout power in the past. McGregor and Poirier meet for the second time next month at UFC 257 on UFC Fight Island. The first time these two fought was back in September 2014 at UFC 178. That fight was almost seven years ago and it was down at featherweight. Both men are different fighters now and both are now fighting up at lightweight. It’s why some analysts believe that Poirier has a much better chance to win the rematch this time.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Manel Kape re-booked for potential flyweight title eliminator
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
Alexandre Pantoja and Manel Kape have been re-booked for a potential flyweight title eliminator against each other for early next year. Pantoja vs. Kape was originally scheduled to take place at UFC Vegas 17 on December 19 in Las Vegas, but the bout fell apart after Pantoja withdrew from the bout. The UFC then pulled Kape from the card as well and tabbed him to be the backup fighter to the UFC 256 main event between UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno. However, both Figueiredo and Moreno made weight and Kape never ended up making his UFC debut after all at UFC 256.
Ryan Bader could get rematch with Vadim Nemkov, says Scott Coker
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
Ryan Bader could get a rematch with Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov in 2021, according to Bellator president Scott Coker. Bader saw his eight-fight unbeaten streak snapped in emphatic fashion back at Bellator 244 in August when he suffered a vicious head kick TKO loss to Nemkov to lose the light heavyweight belt. Bader is still the Bellator heavyweight champion as well, and many thought his next fight would be a title defense of the heavyweight belt, but it now looks like there is a chance that Bader will remain down at 205lbs.
Dustin Poirier believes Conor McGregor rematch "could potentially be" for a belt
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier believes that his upcoming rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 257 “could potentially be” for a belt. The status of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is up in the air at the moment. After defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from MMA. However, UFC president Dana White says that he will be meeting with the lightweight champ in January in Abu Dhabi in order to convince him to fight one more time. With Nurmagomedov’s current status in limbo, some have called for him to vacate his title or for an interim belt to potentially be created.
Kevin Holland surprises lucky fan with heavy bag for Christmas
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland surprised one lucky MMA fan on Twitter with a heavy bag just in time for Christmas. On Christmas day, Holland wished his followers on social media happy holidays and asked them what gifts they got for Christmas. One fan showed Holland that he received a pair of MMA gloves as a present but he said he didn’t have a heavy bag in order to use them. Looking to lift the spirits of one lucky fan, Holland shot the fan a message and told them to send him a DM with their address. “Ho Ho” Holland said that he would be sending the fan a small heavy bag so they have a great Christmas.
Joaquin Buckley makes return to the Octagon against Alessio Di Chirico
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley is set to make his return to the Octagon against Alessio Di Chirico early next year on UFC Fight Island. MMAjunkie.com was the first to confirm that Buckley vs. Di Chirico will take place on January 16, 2021, on the undercard of the UFC Fight Night: Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar event. That is the UFC’s first event of the new year, so the promotion is looking to keep Buckley busy after his star-making year in 2020. After scoring back-to-back knockouts in his last two fights, Buckley looks poised for a monster year in 2021, as well.
Conor McGregor on upcoming rematch with Dustin Poirier: "I am preparing a masterpiece!"
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC superstar Conor McGregor said that he is “preparing a masterpiece” for his upcoming rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. McGregor meets Poirier in the main event of UFC 257, set for January 23 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. The two previously met back at UFC 178 in September 2014 with McGregor winning the fight via first-round knockout. The two now meet again seven years later with a potential lightweight title shot on the line. It’s a huge fight between two of the best lightweights in the world that should be a big PPV seller.
UFC featherweight Jared Gordon celebrates five years of sobriety
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC featherweight Jared Gordon celebrated five years of sobriety by sharing a motivational message with his followers on his social media. Gordon has been very open about his past drug addiction. In his late teens, Gordon began using prescription pain medication, and soon after in his early 20s, Gordon became addicted to heroin. He has admitted that he was homeless and panhandled in order to get money for drugs. The incredible thing was he was coming up as an excellent MMA prospect at the same time. From 2011 to 2015, Gordon won the first nine fights of his MMA career before suffering his first career loss to Jeff Lentz.
UFC Fight Night 184: "Holloway vs. Kattar" Fight Card and Rumors
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
Check out the latest fight card and rumors for the upcoming UFC Fight Night 184: Holloway vs. Kattar event in early January 2021. Event: UFC Fight Night 184: Holloway vs. Kattar Date: Saturday, January 16, 2021 Location: Fight Island in Abu Dhabi Broadcast: ESPN+ (3 pm EST prelims)
Scott Coker says social media support made him sign Yoel Romero to Bellator
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker says that social media support made him sign former UFC star Yoel Romero to a contract with his organization. Coker and Bellator initially passed on signing Romero after the UFC released him earlier this month. Citing a younger roster as the reason for not bringing in Romero into his promotion, Coker said that Bellator wasn’t interested in signing him. However, after Bellator signed former UFC light heavyweight title contender Anthony Johnson a few days later, Coker did an about-face and signed Romero to a contract.
Nik Lentz reveals he nearly lost an eye in unanimous decision loss to Arnold Allen
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
Veteran UFC featherweight Nik Lentz reveals he nearly lost an eye in a unanimous decision loss to Arnold Allen earlier this year. Lentz returns to the Octagon in January 2021 when he takes on Mike Grundy on the undercard of UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar. In January of this year, Lentz took on top featherweight prospect Allen and he lost a hard-fought fight via unanimous decision. During the fight, Lentz suffered an eye injury due to an eye poke. He ended up losing that fight, but Lentz was far more concerned that he might lose his eye. For the next few months after the fight with Allen, Lentz struggled to deal with his injured eye.