MMA News
Gilbert Burns admits its a "blessing" he didn't fight Kamaru Usman in July
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Gilbert Burns says it’s a “blessing” he didn’t end up fighting Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship in July. Burns was originally slated to challenge Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, for the division’s strap in the main event of UFC 251 in July. Regrettably, he ended up coming down with COVID-19, and was forced out of the fight as a result.
Georges St-Pierre teases "announcement tomorrow"
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre says he’ll have an announcement for his fans on Wednesday. St-Pierre is currently retired, but has frequently been linked to a potential fight with unbeaten UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. While it certainly seems like a long shot that he’ll be announcing that fight tomorrow, it’s clear he has something in the pipeline.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts to receiving 2020 Fight of the Year honors
Tom Taylor - December 29, 2020
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk has reacted to receiving Fight of the Year honors at the 2020 World MMA Awards. Jedrzejczyk received this honor for her part in a fight with UFC strawweight champion Weili Zhang. The pair met in the co-main event of UFC 248 in March, with Zhang’s title on the line. While Jedrzejczyk ultimately came up short in the matchup, there were no real losers in the fight, as the two women left everything they had in the Octagon.
Jordan Leavitt explains why he was embarrassed to be a pro fighter prior to KO win at UFC Vegas 16
Harry Kettle - December 29, 2020
Rising UFC star Jordan Leavitt has explained why he was embarrassed to be a professional fighter prior to his UFC Vegas 16 victory. Leavitt, who pulled off an impressive submission win over Luke Flores on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year, sent a real message to the rest of his division after knocking Matt Wiman out with a devastating slam just 20 seconds into their clash at the start of December.
Conor McGregor boosted ESPN+ subscriptions from 6.6 to 7.6 million, says Disney exec
Harry Kettle - December 29, 2020
Earlier this year, Disney’s Bob Iger claimed that Conor McGregor helped drive ESPN+ subscriptions rise from 6.6 million to 7.6 million. While there is so confirmation as to whether or not these numbers came directly from his win over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at the start of the year, there’s no way of denying the overwhelming impact that can be felt throughout the sport of mixed martial arts whenever McGregor is in town.
Khabib Nurmagomedov shares picks for the UFC’s top three lightweights
Drake Riggs - December 28, 2020
If anyone knows who the best fighters at 155-pounds are, it’s probably the guy who is the best of the bunch, and that’s Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov. The undefeated 29-0 king of the UFC’s lightweight division has since called an end to his career after a dominant win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. And with that being the case, it’s left everyone wondering how things will unfold atop the division.
Corey Anderson: 'Everybody knows Jon Jones isn't the greatest striker'
Drake Riggs - December 28, 2020
Jon Jones and Corey Anderson never got to square off during their time together in the UFC light heavyweight division. However, The Ultimate Fighter season 19 winner believes there are certain reasons that success has started being found against one of the all-time greats. In Jones’ last two title defenses, he went the distance with the likes of Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes. With the first resulting in a split decision and the second a unanimous, both for Jones, many in the MMA community disagreed with the results.
Weili Zhang reacts after classic with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 named Fight of the Year
Adam Martin - December 28, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang reacted after her classic with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 was named 2020 Fight of the Year. It’s amazing that Zhang and Jedrzejczyk actually took place during this year considering how 2020 ended up turning out. Remember, UFC 248 in March was the last event to feature fans before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. But it’s true that this fight took place this year, and it was an absolute war between two of the best women’s MMA fighters of all time. It absolutely deserved to win Fight of the Year not only at the World MMA Awards but from essentially every MMA media outlet.
Ali Abdelaziz lashes out at John Kavanagh for suggesting McGregor vs. Poirier 2 should be for a title
Cole Shelton - December 28, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz has responded after John Kavanagh suggested Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2 should be for the vacant belt. After Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje and retired, many wondered why the belt never became vacant. With McGregor returning on January 23, many believed by the time the fight rolled around, the fight would be for the belt. Kavanagh, however, doesn’t understand why it isn’t.
Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch "wouldn't be a close fight" according to Dillon Danis
Cole Shelton - December 28, 2020
Dillon Danis is hoping Conor McGregor can get a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov to prove he is the better fighter. At UFC 229, McGregor returned to the Octagon after two years away and suffered a fourth-round submission loss. However, after the fight, the Irishman claimed he wasn’t focused on the fight and fought with a broken foot.
Gaethje, Chandler "slightly easier" fight for Conor McGregor than Poirier, says coach
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Coach John Kavanagh believes Dustin Poirier is a tougher opponent for Conor McGregor than Justin Gaethje or Michael Chandler. Kavanagh has long served as McGregor’s head coach. During a recent interview with TheMacLife, he rated McGregor’s next opponent, Poirier, against two other top lightweights in Gaethje and Chandler.
Brandon Moreno makes his pick for 2020 Fight of the Year: "Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk should win"
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Brandon Moreno was involved in one of the best fights of 2020, but he doesn’t believe he’s the most deserving candidate of Fight of the Year honors. Moreno dropped jaws earlier this month, when he battled UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo to a thrilling draw in the main event of UFC 256. While the two flyweight stars deserve plenty of credit for that incredible contest, Moreno himself feels Fight of the Year honors should go to another UFC championship war: Zhang Weili’s March defeat of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Amanda Nunes reacts after being named Female Fighter of the Year
Adam Martin - December 28, 2020
UFC women’s superstar Amanda Nunes reacted after being named Female Fighter of the Year at the 12th Fighters Only World MMA Awards. Nunes was the recipient of the honor from the World MMA awards from Fighters Only on Sunday night. She was up against several other tough competitors in a star-studded field of elite women’s MMA fighters, including Bellator’s Cris Cyborg, PFL’s Kayla Harrison, and fellow UFC champions Valentina Shevchenko and Weili Zhang.
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.
Israel Adesanya reacts after being voted ‘Fighter of The Year’ for 2020
Harry Kettle - December 28, 2020
UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya has reacted to being named Fighter of the Year in the Fighters Only World MMA Awards. Adesanya managed to register two big wins in 2020, and while his victory over Yoel Romero may have been controversial, the success against Paulo Costa was as emphatic as it gets.
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.