MMA News
Leon Edwards will not fight on January 20, UFC plans to rebook Khamzat Chimaev fight according to Dana White
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Leon Edwards will not be fighting on January 20 after all. Edwards was set to headline the card against Khamzat Chimaev in a really intriguing bout. However, it was revealed the Swede was out of the fight due to COVID-19, but Edwards made it clear he still wanted to fight on that date which won’t happen.
Dana White names his top three fighters to watch for in 2021
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC president Dana White named his top three fighters to watch for in 2021, pointing out Khamzat Chimaev, Kevin Holland, and Joaquin Buckley. White was a guest on the “SHOUT! Buffalo Podcast” on Wednesday and he was asked to point out his top three fighters to look forward to heading into the new year. The UFC president named three of the hottest fighters on the UFC roster right now in Chimaev, Holland, and Buckley as his top three fighters to watch for in 2021.
Dana White slams "some kid from YouTube" Jake Paul, says Amanda Nunes would put him in a coma
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC president Dana White slammed YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, suggesting that UFC women’s champion Amanda Nunes would put him in a coma. Paul has become one of the biggest names in combat sports ever since he scored a viral KO over Nate Robinson on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. PPV. Since then, numerous high-profile boxers, UFC fighters, and even celebrities have called Paul out for a fight. Most recently he was connected to a matchup with Ben Askren, the former UFC welterweight. White has had some choice words about Paul in recent weeks for his choice of opponents, suggesting Nunes would KO him.
Dana White officially announces Israel Adesanya vs. Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Israel Adesanya will look to become a UFC champ-champ in 2021. Ever since Jan Blachowicz became the light heavyweight champion, UFC president, Dana White has said he wants to make Blachowicz vs. Adesanya. Now, that is what happened as the UFC boss revealed to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that the fight will take place on March 6 at UFC 259.
Betting odds released for Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming heavyweight bout between top contenders Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. Overeem vs. Volkov is set as the five-round headliner of a UFC Fight Night card that is scheduled to take place on February 6. Overeem and Volkov are two of the top-10 heavyweights on the UFC roster and the winner of this bout will put themselves in a prime position to contend for the UFC heavyweight title by the end of 2021. Ahead of this upcoming bout, the oddsmakers have released the betting odds for the match. Check out the opening betting odds for Overeem vs. Volkov (via BestFightOdds).
Coach: Rob Font staying ready in case anything happens to Petr Yan or Aljamain Sterling
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Rob Font is now a top-five bantamweight and he plans on staying ready for the upcoming title fight. At UFC Vegas 17, Font picked up the biggest win of his career as he knocked out Marlon Moraes in the first round. For his head coach, Tyson Chartier, he says the win over Moraes is a big one for Font’s confidence and silencing the doubters.
UFC pay-per-view prices set to go up again in 2021
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
The price of purchasing a UFC pay-per-view card is about to get more costly for fans in 2021 as Disney and ESPN are raising their PPV prices. According to a report from Variety, Disney and ESPN plan on increasing the price of a UFC PPV from their current price of $64.99 (U.S. dollars) to $69.99 in 2021, starting with UFC 257: McGregor vs. Poirier 2. This follows on the heels of a price increase in 2018 when the price of a PPV went up from $59.99 to $64.99. Additionally, the cost of subscribing to a year of ESPN+ is set to rise from $49.99 to $59.99 in 2021. In the United States, fans must order the PPV cards through ESPN+, making it a necessity.
Brad Pickett shares story of "crazy person" Hector Lombard KOing training partner in warm-up
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
British MMA legend Brad Pickett says former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is a bit of a nightmare in the gym. Speaking to Fightful recently, Pickett looked back on some of his training sessions with Lombard, recounting a time the hulking Cuban flatlined a training partner in a warm-up round.
Cory Sandhagen opens as big favorite over Frankie Edgar
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen opened up as a big betting favorite for his upcoming battle against Frankie Edgar in early 2021. Sandhagen takes on Edgar on the undercard of the upcoming Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov card that is set for February 6 of next year. With the fight now official, the sportsbooks have released the opening betting odds for this intriguing Sandhagen vs. Edgar bout. Check out the opening odds below (via BestFightOdds).
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to potential Carla Esparza title shot: "Rose is next"
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacted to the potential of Carla Esparza getting a title shot, saying “Rose is next.” We all thought the plan was for UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang to fight Rose Namajunas next, but UFC president Dana White recently got into a public disagreement with Team Namajunas about her desire to actually fight for the belt. According to White, Namajunas doesn’t want to fight Zhang for the belt and the UFC is considering giving the title shot at 115lbs to the former champion Esparza instead. On her end, Team Namajunas has denied that and says that she just wants to fight.
Georges St-Pierre announces new partnership with Budweiser Zero
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Georges St-Pierre told fight fans he’d be making a special announcement on Wednesday, and he came through on that promise. Whether it’s the announcement fight fans were hoping for, however, is up for debate.
Dustin Poirier "most deserving of a title shot," says Khabib Nurmagomedov coach
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Coach Javier Mendez believes that if his star pupil, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, retires, Dustin Poirier should fight for the vacant belt. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after a submission victory over Justin Gaethje in October. That being said, he still hasn’t vacated the lightweight title, due primarily to the fact that UFC President Dana White hopes he’ll fight again.
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones deserves heavyweight title shot
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Daniel Cormier believes former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones deserves an immediate crack at the UFC light heavyweight title. Jones ruled over the UFC light heavyweight division for many years—battling Cormier twice in that span—but recently vacated his throne with plans to move up to heavyweight.
Tony Ferguson reflects on meeting with Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson recently took a little trip down memory lane, reflecting on a meeting with his long-time rival Conor McGregor. Ferguson and McGregor have stood out as two of the UFC’s top lightweights for many years. Somewhat miraculously, however, the pair have never shared the cage.
Minowaman previews "explosively inspiring, wacky fight" at RIZIN 26
Tom Taylor - December 30, 2020
Minowaman, a legend among hardcore fight fans, is headed to the RIZIN Fighting Federation ring. The 44-year-old, who has competed in well over 100 mixed martial arts bouts and many pro wrestling matches, will take on jūryō-ranked sumo Tsuyoshi Sudario at RIZIN 26 inside the Saitama Super Arena on New Years Eve.
Magomed Ankalaev set to return against fellow light heavyweight contender Nikita Krylov on February 27
Harry Kettle - December 30, 2020
Top light heavyweight contenders will meet in late February as Magomed Ankalaev prepares to lock horns with Nikita Krylov. These two titans at 205 pounds will be hoping to make a statement to kickstart 2021 with both coming off the back of 2020 wins over legitimate names – Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker respectively.
Conor McGregor will finish Dustin Poirier inside two rounds at UFC 257, says Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - December 29, 2020
Dillon Danis expects Conor McGregor to beat Dustin Poirier pretty quickly at UFC 257. On January 23, McGregor and Poirier will have their rematch six-and-a-half years in the making. The two first fought in September of 2014 with the Irishman winning by first-round knockout. For Danis, he believes the result at UFC 257 will be very similar as he expects his teammate to KO “The Diamond” inside two rounds.
Coach: If Calvin Kattar doesn't get a title shot with a win over Holloway "there is superior politics going on"
Cole Shelton - December 29, 2020
Tyson Chartier believes Calvin Kattar will be fighting for a UFC title sometime in the middle of 2021. Entering 2020, Chartier and Kattar set out a goal of going 3-0 after a disappointing loss to Zabit Magomedsharipov in November. The hope was the New England Cartel member would get the hype behind his name back and everyone would forget about the loss. So far, that is exactly what has happened.