MMA News
Dustin Poirier praises "incredible" Charles Oliveira, calls Michael Chandler a "good fighter"
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier praised divisional rivals Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler for their recent performances. Oliveira has won eight straight fights and, back at UFC 256, he picked up the biggest win of his career when he defeated Tony Ferguson via lopsided decision. As for Chandler, he is set to make his UFC debut in 2021 after the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion signed with the world’s leading MMA promotion as a free agent this year. Oliveira is a ranked fighter and Chandler will soon join him in the top-15 of what UFC president Dana White says is the UFC’s strongest division.
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.
Julianna Pena vs. Sara McMann added to UFC 257
Adam Martin - December 27, 2020
An important women’s bantamweight bout between Julianna Pena and Sara McMann has been added to the upcoming UFC 257 pay-per-view card. Pena vs. McMann was originally set to take place at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Kattar, but the fight was pushed back a week to UFC 257 instead. The bout will now take place on January 23 on the undercard of the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2 pay-per-view. With Pena and McMann both being ranked in the top-15 at women’s 135lbs, this is an important fight for both women as they look to move close to a bantamweight title shot.
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.
Daniel Cormier says Khabib Nurmagomedov would only return for superfight with Georges St. Pierre
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
UFC analyst Daniel Cormier says that UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov would only return for a superfight with Georges St. Pierre. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from MMA following a second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, a victory that improved his career record to 29-0. Nurmagomedov has said many times that getting to 30-0 is one of his goals, but after his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away in July from COVID-19, he said that he no longer wanted to continue to step into the Octagon.
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.
Bellator signs judo ace Irina Alekseeva, also known as the "Russian Ronda"
Adam D Martin - December 27, 2020
Bellator has signed judo ace Irina Alekseeva, who is also known as the “Russian Ronda,” to a new contract according to her management team. Brian Butler-Au of SuckerPunch Entertainment recently announced that Alekseeva will be taking her talents to Bellator. Check out the official announcement from Butler-Au below.
Vitor Belfort says he will put Jake Paul on his knees: "You are 'Joke' Paul. You're not Jake."
Chris Taylor - December 27, 2020
Former UFC champion and MMA legend Vitor Belfort sent a stern warning to YouTuber turned professional boxer Jake Paul. Paul (2-0) has been making headlines ever since scoring a brutal second round knockout over Nate Robinson at last months ‘Tyson vs. Jones Jr’ event.
Cody Garbrandt vs. Jose Aldo at 135 pounds?
Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020
Ali Abdelaziz is still hoping his client Cody Garbrandt can skip the line at flyweight, but if not a fight with MMA legend Jose Aldo will do. The UFC’s former bantamweight champion, Garbrandt (12-3 MMA), was slated to challenge Deiveson Figueiredo for the promotions flyweight title back at UFC 255 in November. Unfortunately for ‘No Love, he was forced to withdraw from the contest due to a bicep injury.
Wrestling community mourns following the tragic passing of Jon Huber
Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020
The pro wrestling community suffered another tragic blow this evening as it was reported that Jon Huber has passed away. The former WWE Intercontinental champion, Huber, was best known for his roles as Luke Harper and Brodie Lee. According to a statement issued by his family, Jon had passed away following a non-Covid related lung issue. He was only 41 years old.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains why he was disappointed with Conor McGregor's performance at UFC 229
Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov recently admitted that he was disappointed with the effort Conor McGregor put forth in their title fight at UFC 229. McGregor challenged Nurmagomedov for the promotions lightweight title back in October of 2018, but wound up losing the contest by way of fourth round submission.
Khamzat Chimaev vows to smash "chicken" Conor McGregor for messing with his "big brother"
Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020
Khamzat Chimaev has vowed to smash Conor McGregor after the Irishman took aim at his “big brother” on Christmas evening. After announcing that he is expecting his third child with Dee Devlin on Christmas morning, McGregor later went from cheer to jeer by attacking Ali Abdelaziz on social media.
Conor McGregor plays tweet and delete after heated Christmas exchange with Ali Abdelaziz
Chris Taylor - December 26, 2020
Conor McGregor played tweet and delete after engaging in a heated Twitter feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. McGregor started his Christmas morning by announcing that he is expecting his third child with his longtime partner Dee Devlin. The Irish couple, who have been together since 2008, have two children together, Conor Jack McGregor, who was born in May 2017, and Croia McGregor, who was born in January 2019.