MMA News
UFC 256 medical suspensions: Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Moreno both facing long sits after flyweight war
Tom Taylor - December 18, 2020
The medical suspensions for last Saturday’s UFC 256 card have been revealed, and to nobody’s surprise, headliners Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno could be out for awhile. Figueiredo, the UFC flyweight champion, and Moreno, the streaking top contender, collided in the UFC 256 main event, and battled tooth-and-nail for five, hectic rounds. At the end of the razor-close contest, both men were black and blue, and the cage-side judges scored the fight a majority draw. After this flyweight war, both men are facing six-month suspensions.
Jose Aldo says he will never fight for another MMA promotion outside the UFC: "It is not a question of money"
Adam Martin - December 18, 2020
Bantamweight contender Jose Aldo says he will never fight for another MMA promotion outside the UFC, saying “It is not a question of money.” Aldo returns to the Octagon this Saturday at UFC Vegas 17 when he takes on the surging Marlon Vera in the evening’s co-main event. For Aldo, this is an extremely important fight. The former UFC featherweight champion has fallen on hard times as of late, dropping three straight fights. With the UFC cutting 60 fighters from its roster and with fellow Brazilians such as Junior dos Santos and Ronaldo Souza likely exiting the Octagon, some have suggested Aldo could also be released with a loss to Vera.
Maycee Barber admits Michael Bisping’s comments following Modafferi loss stung a bit: “To me, he is a legend”
Cole Shelton - December 18, 2020
Maycee Barber has responded to Michael Bisping. After Barber suffered her first career loss to Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246, the 22-year-old grabbed the mic before Modafferi could speak. Barber also blamed her ACL tearing as the reason she lost. However, Bisping was not a fan of the way Barber handled her first career loss.
Khabib Nurmagomedov named BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star of the Year
Tom Taylor - December 18, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been named the Sports Personality of the Year for 2020 by the BBC. The organization announced Nurmagomedov as the recipient of the award on Thursday.
Ben Askren slams Jake Paul for getting “hammered by that dummy” AJ Agazarm
Harry Kettle - December 18, 2020
Retired MMA star Ben Askren has taken a shot at Jake Paul for getting “hammered” by former Bellator fighter AJ Agazarm. After recent footage emerged of Paul sparring with Agazarm and seemingly getting the upper hand, many were wondering whether or not it would open the door for a fight against Nate Diaz. However, a new video has resurfaced that shows Agazarm controlling Paul quite easily in an unofficial mixed martial arts bout.
Michael Bisping claims Jake Paul contacted him for boxing match, 'I'll do it'
Drake Riggs - December 17, 2020
Michael Bisping could be getting dragged into all of this recent celebrity boxing drama. And “The Count” isn’t at all opposed to the idea of it if the offers he’s now receiving are serious. Celebrity YouTube stars Logan and Jake Paul have turned their attention to the world of boxing in 2020. With both brothers having had pro bouts to varying degrees of success, they each look to continue down this path for the foreseeable future.
Cody Garbrandt slams Sean O'Malley for suggesting that he would get KO'd by Jake Paul
Christopher Taylor - December 17, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt did not take to well to Sean O’Malley’s claim that he would get KO’d by Jake Paul. A couple of night ago ‘No Love’ had taken to Twitter where he backed up Nate Diaz by proclaiming the Youtuber to be a “reckless talking cunt”.
Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17 event is down to 12 fights after Aiemann Zahabi is forced to withdraw
Drake Riggs - December 17, 2020
UFC Vegas 17 continues to take hits as a bantamweight matchup has been canceled after Aiemann Zahabi tested positive for COVID-19. Initially shaping up to be a massive 18-fight end of the year showcase for the UFC, that is now far from the case as we quickly approach weigh-ins. In total, UFC Vegas 17 has lost 11 scheduled bouts including the event headliner pitting the red-hot Khamzat Chimaev opposite No. 3 ranked Leon Edwards.
Geoff Neal sees both sides to Khamzat Chimaev getting Leon Edwards fight
Drake Riggs - December 17, 2020
Streaking welterweight contender Geoff Neal is prepared to compete in his biggest fight yet. But originally, he wasn’t supposed to be UFC Vegas 17’s main event. On December 19, Neal is set to take on former UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. For the 30-year old Contender Series alum, this will be his first time as a UFC headliner.
Stephen Thompson confident he would "crush" Jake Paul
Cole Shelton - December 17, 2020
Stephen Thompson believes he would crush Jake Paul if they were to fight one another. Ever since Paul knocked out Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard he has become a massive star. The 23-year-old YouTube star has since taken over the combat sports world and has called out the likes of Conor McGregor, Chris Weidman, and Dillon Danis. Yet, for Thompson, he knows if he were to fight him, it would not end well for Paul.
Junior dos Santos won't accept Ciryl Gane loss due to "illegal" elbow
Cole Shelton - December 17, 2020
Junior dos Santos is not accepting defeat. At UFC 256, dos Santos suffered his fourth-straight loss as he was knocked out by Ciryl Gane in the second round. However, there was some controversy involving the stoppage as the elbow the Frenchman threw was borderline on if it was to the back of the head. For the former champion, he believes it was an illegal shot.
Greg Hardy says he will knock out Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder
Adam Martin - December 17, 2020
UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy says he will knock out Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder if he fights them in a boxing match. Hardy, one of the most controversial fighters in MMA due to domestic violence issues while he was a football player in the NFL, takes on Marcin Tybura this Saturday night at UFC Vegas 17. It’s the last UFC card of the year and Hardy will look to end his 2020 on a high note with a victory over the veteran Tybura. Though the fight is very close on paper, Hardy is already looking past Tybura and into his future, where he sees himself in the boxing ring.
Derek Brunson accepts challenge from Kevin Holland
Adam Martin - December 17, 2020
UFC middleweight Derek Brunson accepted the challenge from Kevin Holland as the two middleweights appear to be on a collision course in 2021. Fresh off of a brutal KO win over Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256, Holland is now looking to break into the top-10 and one of the fighters standing in his way is Brunson. The veteran middleweight is coming off of a huge TKO win over Edmen Shahbazyan that showed he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. With Holland looking to break into the top-10 and with Brunson looking for a high-profile fight to elevate him at 185lbs, a matchup between Brunson and Holland seems to make a lot of sense as we head into the new year.
Christos Giagos steps in on short notice to face Carlton Minus at UFC Vegas 17
Alfredo Zullino - December 17, 2020
A new bout has been added to this Saturday’s card as Christos Giagos replaces Rick Glenn against Carlton Minus. As reported on Wednesday, Rick Glenn has been forced to pull out from the card due to an allegedly positive COVID-19 test. No official statement from the promotion has been made yet.
Maycee Barber reflects on 2020, confident she will "prove everyone wrong" in return fight
Cole Shelton - December 17, 2020
Maycee Barber’s 2020 did not go the way she envisioned. In January at UFC 246, Barber was looking to improve to 9-0 when she took on Roxanne Modafferi. The goal for the 22-year-old was to beat Modafferi, get another win in the summer and fight for the belt at year’s end. Unfortunately for her, she lost the fight by decision and tore her ACL which has kept her out of action for the remainder of the year.
Kevin Holland calls Khamzat Chimaev a "wannabe gangster"
Adam Martin - December 17, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland called Khamzat Chimaev a “wannabe gangster” after hearing “crickets” following his recent call-out. Holland knocked out veteran Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 last weekend with punches off his back on the ground. It was another incredible victory for Holland, who is 5-0 in 2020, with all five of his fights coming since May. After knocking Souza out in a $50,000 bonus-winning performance, Holland called out Chimaev, one of the hottest fighters in the UFC right now at either 170lbs or 180lbs. Chimaev currently has a date set with Leon Edwards for January 20 on Fight Island, but that didn’t stop Holland from calling the Swede out.
Dana White defends Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev booking
Tom Taylor - December 17, 2020
UFC President Dana White has explained why the promotion booked a controversial welterweight fight between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev was one of the breakout stars for the UFC in 2020, rattling off a trio of wins over John Philips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert in the span of just a few months. While those wins were impressive, however, he’s yet to beat a ranked opponent at either middleweight or welterweight.
Tony Ferguson responds to claims that he'll but cut after UFC 256 loss
Tom Taylor - December 17, 2020
Tony Ferguson has responded to a recent claim that he’ll be cut from the UFC roster after his unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira. Ferguson’s loss to Oliveira pushed him onto a two-fight skid, as he was also defeated by Justin Gaethje by TKO back in May. While losses to Gaethje and Oliveira—two of the best lightweights on earth—are certainly excusable, the UFC is currently downsizing it’s roster, and after the release of fighters like Jussier Formiga and Yoel Romero, it seems that nobody is safe from the chopping block.