MMA News
Demian Maia responds to callout from Diego Sanchez on 43rd birthday: "Let's do it"
Adam Martin - November 6, 2020
UFC welterweight Demian Maia has responded to a recent callout from fellow veteran Diego Sanchez, saying that he accepts the matchup with him. Maia and Sanchez are two of the longest-tenured fighters in the UFC and both don’t have many fights left in their careers, so they have to make them count. Maia has indicated recently that his next fight is likely going to be his last after a 14-year UFC career that began in 2007. As for Sanchez, he’s heading into his 16th year with the world’s leading MMA promotion. For comparison, Maia turned 43 years old on Friday while Sanchez is 38.
Andrei Arlovski ready to go on another UFC heavyweight title run
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Andrei Arlovski believes his prime is still ahead of him. At 41-years-old, Arlovski is still competing in the UFC and fighting top-ranked heavyweights. Although he is just 4-9 and one no-contest in his last 15 contests, Arlovski is still confident he can turn back the clock and go on another run to win the heavyweight title just like George Foreman did in boxing at age 45 and defended his belt until 48.
Alexander Hernandez ready to show the world version 2.0 after his "best performance in the UFC"
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Alexander Hernandez believes he is now on version 2.0 as a fighter. At UFC Vegas 12 on Halloween night, Hernandez returned to the win column with a first-round TKO win over Chris Gruetzemacher. It was the first fight Hernandez had as a Factory X fighter and knows he is a completely different fighter now.
Ian Heinisch calls for Khamzat Chimaev fight: "If he wants to test himself against a middleweight, I’m a top-15 guy"
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Ian Heinisch is hoping to fight Khamzat Chimaev the next time the Swede fights at middleweight. Before Chimaev was booked to fight Leon Edwards at welterweight, he said he was having a tough time getting an opponent. However, Heinisch says that is not true as he and Neil Magny made it clear they wanted that fight.
Darren Till forced out of Jack Hermansson fight, "The Joker" receives new opponent
Cole Shelton - November 6, 2020
Darren Till will not be fighting Jack Hermansson in the UFC main event on December 5 as originally planned. Shortly after Till lost to Robert Whittaker it was announced he would be taking on Hermansson in December barring his knee was healed. Now, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the Englishman has been forced out of the fight with an injury. However, rising contender, Kevin Holland has agreed to step up on short notice to fight Hermansson.
Robert Whittaker: UFC "twisted my words around," title shot is "my right"
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker wants a chance to reclaim the belt, and doesn’t know why UFC President Dana White suggested otherwise. Whittaker is now 2-0 since losing the middleweight title to the division’s reigning champ Israel Adesanya, having rebounded with a pair of decision wins over top contenders Darren Till and Jared Cannonier.
Joe Rogan is "a big fan" of Jorge Masvidal: "He's a monster"
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
UFC commentator Joe Rogan is a big fan of Jorge Masvidal, who currently holds the No. 4 spot in the promotion’s welterweight rankings. Rogan got to talking about Masvidal on the latest episode of the JRE MMA Show with his his guest, MMA analyst Luke Thomas.
Gilbert Burns expresses interest in TUF coaching spot: "Why not?"
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
No. 2-ranked UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is interested in coaching the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. UFC President Dana White recently revealed that, after a lengthy hiatus, the Ultimate Fighter will return to our screens in early 2021.
Claudia Gadelha explains why Joanna Jedrzejczyk trilogy would go differently
Adam Martin - November 6, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha explained why a trilogy fight with Joanna Jedrzejczyk would go differently this time around. Gadelha and Jedrzejczyk have fought twice previously. In December 2014, the two met in a title eliminator while both were relatively new to the UFC. Jedrzejczyk won a narrow split decision and would go on to win the title from Carla Esparza in her next fight. The UFC then paired up Gadelha and Jedrzejczyk to be the coaches on TUF 23, and once again Jedrzeczkyk got her hand raised when she won a unanimous decision at the finale.
Austin Vanderford explains why he and wife Paige VanZant leave politics out of MMA: "I'm a fighter and I care about fighting"
Adam Martin - November 6, 2020
Bellator middleweight contender Austin Vanderford explained why he and his wife Paige VanZant leave politics out of their MMA careers. Vanderford picked up his 10th pro victory on Thursday night at Bellator 251 when he won a unanimous decision over short-notice opponent Vinicius De Jesus. The 30-year-old American signed with Bellator in 2019 following a stint on Dana White’s Contender Series that saw the UFC pass on signing him. Since joining Bellator, Vanderford is 4-0 and looking every bit like a future title contender in the promotion’s middleweight division.
ONE Championship results and highlights: Kiamrian Abbasov defends title on finished-filled card
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
On Friday, ONE Championship returned to screens worldwide with ONE: Inside the Matrix 2 from the Singapore Indoor Arena. The ONE Championship: Inside the Matrix 2 card was topped by a welterweight title fight between Kyrgyz champion Kiamrian Abbasov, making his first title defense, and unbeaten American challenger James Nakashima.
Khabib Nurmagomedov responds to doubts about retirement: "People can't understand"
Tom Taylor - November 6, 2020
Undisputed UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has opened up on his decision to retire from mixed martial arts. Khabib last fought at UFC 254 in late October, when he defeated Justin Gaethje, widely viewed as his toughest challenger to date, with a second-round triangle choke. After the win, which elevated his record to an incredible 29-0, he announced his retirement from MMA.
Corey Anderson hoping for Vadim Nemkov or Phil Davis next after victorious Bellator debut
Adam Martin - November 5, 2020
Light heavyweight Corey Anderson is hoping to fight Vadim Nemkov or Phil Davis next after a victorious Bellator debut over Melvin Manhoef. Anderson was a big free-agent signing after mutually parting with ways with the UFC this past summer. A former top-five light heavyweight in the UFC, Anderson was matched up against Manhoef for his debut in the Bellator cage. On paper, it looked like a squash match between a young, elite 205lber and an aging 44-year-old fighter in Manhoef, and it played out just like that in the cage as Anderson won via vicious second-round TKO.
Bellator 251 Results: Corey Anderson TKO's Melvin Manhoef (Highlights)
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Corey Anderson is set to make his Bellator debut against knockout artist, Melvin Manhoef in the main event of Bellator 251. Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1) has been a pro since 1995 and at 44-years-old is still going strong. The former Bellator middleweight title challenger is on a two-fight winning streak but has not fought since October of 2019 when he beat Yannick Bahati by TKO at Bellator 230. In his career, Manhoef has fought the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Mark Hunt.
Israel Adesanya says he will "slap" Jon Jones at light heavyweight and heavyweight
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Israel Adesanya is open to fighting Jon Jones at light heavyweight and heavyweight. Adesanya and Jones have had a feud for quite some time and many figured Adesanya would move up to challenge “Bones” for his light heavyweight title. However, that is not the case as Jones vacated and now “The Last Stylebender” will face Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title in 2021.
Bellator 251: 'Manhoef vs. Anderson' Live Results and Highlights
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Bellator remains in Uncasville, Connecticut for Bellator 251 that sees Melvin Manhoef welcome Corey Anderson to the promotion in the main event. Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1) has been a pro since 1995 and at 44-years-old is still going strong. The former Bellator middleweight title challenger is on a two-fight winning streak but has not fought since October of 2019 when he beat Yannick Bahati by TKO at Bellator 230. In his career, Manhoef has fought the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Mark Hunt.
After first round win over Justin Ledet, Dustin Jacoby believes he'll be in the top-five in a year
Cole Shelton - November 5, 2020
Dustin Jacoby knows the win over Justin Ledet was big for his future. Jacoby, who had a two-fight stint in the UFC in 2011 and 2012 went 0-2 and was released. He then went to Bellator and where he went 0-2 there and decided to pursue kickboxing.
Thiago Santos believes he can steal back title shot from Israel Adesanya with finish over Glover Teixeira
Adam Martin - November 5, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Thiago Santos believes he can steal back the next title shot from Israel Adesanya with a finish over Glover Teixeira. Santos takes on Teixeira in a five-round main event of this weekend’s UFC on ESPN+ 40 event. Santos is the No. 1 ranked contender at 205lbs and Teixeira is ranked No. 3, so the general consensus among fans and media is that this is a title eliminator. However, that looks like it’s not the case anymore after UFC president Dana White recently said that Adesanya is getting the next title shot at the 205lbs belt that Blachowicz wears.