MMA News
UFC Rankings Update: Charles Oliveira and Kevin Holland make big jumps
Drake Riggs - December 15, 2020
Among the biggest winners from UFC 256, there arguably weren’t any bigger than Charles Oliveira and Kevin Holland. In the event’s co-main event, Brazil’s Oliveira impressed beyond comprehension with the biggest win of his career. Taking on former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, Oliveira would completely shut down his adversary en route to a unanimous decision win.
Amanda Ribas on fighting on a Conor McGregor card: 'It will be amazing for me'
Drake Riggs - December 15, 2020
Amanda Ribas has become a breakout star in the UFC’s 115-pound strawweight division since handing Mackenzie Dern her first career loss in October 2019. Currently a flawless 4-0 in the promotion (10-1 overall), the Brazilian has shown a wide range of dangerous skills. Having scored two of those four wins via submission while the other two came via dominant decisions that displayed her sharp striking as well as dominant ground control.
UFC cracking down on fighter travel limitations amid COVID-19
Drake Riggs - December 15, 2020
The UFC has battled valiantly through the 2020 pandemic to continue putting on events. And their efforts haven’t come without casualties as many a fight has been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. Now the promotion is adding some additional efforts to tackle the Coronavirus with more stringent safety protocols. More specifically, those regarding travel.
Brandon Moreno surprised by judges' scorecards at UFC 256: "I think I lost the fifth round"
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
UFC flyweight contender Brandon Moreno was surprised by judges’ scorecards at UFC 256, admitting, “I think I lost the fifth round.” Moreno and Figueiredo met in the main event of this past weekend’s UFC 256 pay-per-view card and put on an absolute classic for the fans. The two best flyweights in the world went the full 25 minutes and looked for the finish the whole way through in an absolute war that many are calling the best flyweight fight of all time. At the end of the five rounds, the judges couldn’t declare a winner, scoring the fight a majority draw. A point deduction to Figueiredo for a low blow in the third round proved to cost him the unanimous decision win.
Amanda Nunes responds after Dana White suggests he might have her KO Jake Paul
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
UFC women’s double champion Amanda Nunes responded after UFC president Dana White suggested he might have her knock out Jake Paul. A YouTuber-turned-boxer, Paul has become one of the most talked-about athletes in combat sports over the last few weeks ever since his highlight-reel KO over Nate Robinson in a boxing match. Athletes from all different sports have called Paul out, but he’s kept his focus on the big guns, releasing a video this week where he called out UFC superstar Conor McGregor and made fun of his partner. White was also asked by the media this week about Paul’s comments towards McGregor, and he confirmed that the fight will never happen.
Dana White responds to Jake Paul: "I'm thinking of letting Amanda Nunes knock his ass out"
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
Dana White has some interest in letting Jake Paul fight a UFC fighter but it is not who he wants. On Monday, Paul sent out a vulgar video where he claimed Conor McGregor was scared to fight him and roasted Dana White.
Stephen Thompson believes UFC views him as a gatekeeper, eyes KO win over Geoff Neal
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
Stephen Thompson thinks the UFC views him as a gatekeeper now. For the second-straight fight, Thompson will fight a rising welterweight contender, but this time he will be the main event as he battles Geoff Neal. It is a very intriguing matchup but for “Wonderboy” he knows why the UFC made this fight and that is them wanting to push Neal up the rankings.
Geoff Neal expects to finish Stephen Thompson and earn welterweight title shot
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
Geoff Neal didn’t expect Stephen Thompson to accept the fight. After Neal was forced to pull out of his fight against Neil Magny in August, he wasn’t sure if he would get a ranked opponent in his return. However, he was then offered Thompson and was surprised “Wonderboy” accepted it.
Cristiano Ronaldo: I would rather watch UFC or boxing than football
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
Global sporting icon Cristiano Ronaldo says that he would rather watch a UFC fight or a boxing bout than watch a football match. Ronaldo, the Portugal native who is one of the greatest footballers in the world, spoke about his love for combat sports ahead of this weekend’s boxing match between Gennadiy Golovkin and Kamil Szeremeta. The Juventus forward spoke on “Parallel Worlds” on DAZN and admitted that although football is his passion in life, he doesn’t enjoy watching it as much as he enjoys watching the UFC or boxing. Check out what Ronaldo said (via ESPN).
Jacare Souza issues statement after KO loss to Kevin Holland: "I will be back stronger"
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
Brazilian MMA legend Jacare Souza has released a statement after finding himself on the receiving end of a highlight-reel knockout last weekend. Jacare, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, returned to the cage on the main card of UFC 256 last Saturday in Las Vegas. While he was originally expected to fight Marvin Vettori on the card, a series of COVID-19-related shakeups resulted in his being matched up with Kevin Holland at the last minute.
UFC Vegas 17 loses fight as positive test for COVID-19 forces Belal Muhammad off card
Adam Martin - December 15, 2020
This Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17 card has lost a fight as welterweight Belal Muhammad announced he has tested positive for COVID-19. Muhammad was set to take on Dhiego Lima at UFC Vegas 17, the final UFC event of the year, in a battle between two welterweights currently riding three-fight win streaks. Muhammad was lined as a big betting favorite by the sportsbooks for this matchup but he will have to wait a bit to fight Lima as the fight has been postponed due to Muhammad’s positive COVID-19 test. The welterweight himself announced the news Tuesday on Twitter.
Jake Paul ducked Yoel Romero fight, claims manager
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
MMA manager Malki Kawa claims YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul turned down a fight with one of his star clients, Yoel Romero. Paul has been the talk of the combat sports world after he picked up a brutal knockout victory over former NBA star Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard last month.
Just Scrap Radio Ep. 23 with Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, Marlon Vera, Rob Font, Khaos Williams, and Maycee Barber
Cole Shelton - December 15, 2020
The 23rd episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC Vegas 17. We’re first joined by one-half of the UFC Vegas 17 main event, Stephen Thompson (3:16). Next, the other fighter in the main event, Geoff Neal (23:26) stops by. UFC bantamweight, Marlon Vera (39:56) comes on. Next, UFC bantamweight, Rob Font (54:15) joins the program. Then, UFC welterweight, Khaos Williams (1:05:58) joins the show. Closing out the program is UFC flyweight, Maycee Barber (1:16:06).
Kevin Holland has no plans to slow down: “I guess we will have to do 6 fights in 2021”
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland is planning for a big year in 2021 after a sensational five wins in 2020. While some aren’t including him in the discussion for Fighter of the Year, there’s no way of denying that Holland has been able to transform himself into a legitimate divisional contender between May and December with wins over highly regarded foes like Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Darren Stewart and Joaquin Buckley.
Photo | Jorge Masvidal shares photo of Colby Covington giving props to LeBron James on social media
Harry Kettle - December 15, 2020
UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has taken a shot at rival Colby Covington’s feud with LeBron James in a recent social media post. Masvidal and Covington, who used to be close friends and training partners, are now expected to square off in early 2021 with the expectation being that the winner will get another crack at divisional champion Kamaru Usman later in the year.
PFL champ Kayla Harrison to fight once more in 2020
Tom Taylor - December 15, 2020
Reigning PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison will compete one more time before she closes the door on the year 2020. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, steps into the Titan FC cage this Thursday to face Jozette Cotton. The bout takes place from the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami and streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
Photo | Max Griffin shows off tattoo of opponent's torn ear
Drake Riggs - December 14, 2020
UFC welterweight veteran Max Griffin earned a rather gruesome TKO victory in his last time out. And to commemorate the win, he decided to get some ink done. At UFC Vegas 13 in November, Griffin battled it out with promotional newcomer Ramiz Brahimaj. After going toe-to-toe for the first two rounds, Griffin put an exclamation point on the fight two minutes into the third.
Former UFC champ Cody Garbrandt has some choice words for Jake Paul
Adam Martin - December 14, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt joined Nate Diaz in directing some choice words toward YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Diaz took a shot at Paul on Monday, just hours after Paul had taken a shot at UFC superstar Conor McGregor, calling him out in a video posted to his social media. Paul has no MMA fights, but after his viral KO of Nate Robinson in boxing was heard around the world, plenty of athletes in MMA and other sports, not to mention celebrities, have called him out for a money fight. Paul has said that his goal is to get a fight with McGregor and that he is dedicating his life to beating him. But so far McGregor has ignored him.