MMA News

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

A lightweight fight between Islam Makhachev and Rafael dos Anjos has been rescheduled for UFC Vegas 15 on November 14. This news was first reported by MMADNA.nl.

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes losing his father to COVID-19 will be a “driving factor” for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away at the age of 57 in July after a fatal battle with COVID-19. It’s a big loss for the sport, but most of all it’s a big loss for “The Eagle”. His father was his coach and mentor and he will be missing him in his corner. Despite the loss, Nurmagomedov continues to press on with his career, and he puts his title on the line against interim champion Gaethje this weekend at UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has explained why he wasn’t interested in fighting Islam Makhachev on short-notice. Chandler, who has yet to make his UFC debut, is on standby on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in the event that Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje is unable to compete in the UFC 254 headliner this weekend. Makhachev, meanwhile, was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos on the card, but was forced off the bill when the UFC couldn’t find him a replacement opponent after a dos Anjos injury.

Cole Shelton - October 20, 2020

The 15th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 254. We’re first joined by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s head coach, Javier Mendez (2:34). Next, UFC light heavyweight, Sam Alvey (16:27) joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC bantamweight, Casey Kenney (28:16).

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier had a heated exchange on Tuesday, getting into it over their respective interim title wins. Poirier and Gaethje fought in 2018, with the former winning by fourth-round TKO. Poirier later went on to capture the UFC’s interim lightweight title with a win over Max Holloway, but lost it when he came up short in a title-unifying showdown with undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

The rematch between women’s strawweight contenders Angela Hill and Tecia Torres has been booked to take place at UFC 256 later this year. MMAjunkie.com was the first to report the rematch between Hill and Torres that is set to take place at UFC 256 on December 12 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hill and Torres previously met back at UFC 188 in 2015, with Torres winning a unanimous decision. That was the second fight for both women in their UFC careers. Five years later and both women meet once again in the Octagon in what should be a key fight at women’s 115lbs.

Andrew Whitelaw - October 20, 2020

Michael Chandler is still eyeing a dance with Tony Ferguson for his first fight in the UFC. The pair were briefly intended to be the co-main event at UFC 254, but an agreement could not be reached. Speaking at the UFC 254 virtual media day, Chandler admitted that provided he doesn’t fight this weekend, “El Cucuy” is his preferred next opponent.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Justin Gaethje has highlighted a key difference between his next opponent, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his last foe, Tony Ferguson. Gaethje captured the UFC’s interim lightweight with a defeat of Ferguson back at UFC 249 in May. Gaethje was the picture of dominance in that fight, but Ferguson’s heart and toughness allowed him to survive until the fifth round, when he finally wilted under a storm of strikes.

Harry Kettle - October 20, 2020

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Dustin Poirier has shown his weakness by considering a 170-pound fight with Conor McGregor. Poirier and McGregor seem to be on the verge of agreeing to a January 23 showdown, more than six years on from their featherweight encounter at UFC 178. Alas, while both men are aiming to get another shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship owned by Nurmagomedov, McGregor continues to flirt with the idea of another bout at welterweight.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Danielle Nickerson has opened up on the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, UFC welterweight star “Platinum” Mike Perry Nickerson previously alluded to abuse issues during her time with Perry, but in an interview with MMA Junkie, shed new light on what she allegedly went through.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

This Friday, former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett will battle former KSW champion Marcin Rozalsk. The bout will headline the first event from Genesis, a new bare-knuckle promotion from KSW, a massively successful MMA promotion out of Poland.

Harry Kettle - October 20, 2020

UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has suggested the idea of fighting three times in one night to UFC president Dana White. After going 3-0 in 2020 with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Chimaev has quickly established himself as one to watch at both welterweight and middleweight. With a parade of fighters offering to take him on, it should come as no surprise that Chimaev is willing to go up against just about anyone the promotion puts in front of him.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2020

Conor McGregor believes he was beating Khabib Nurmagomedov before he got submitted at UFC 229. In the main event of the card, McGregor was making his long-awaited and highly-anticipated return to the sport against Nurmagomedov who was looking for his first title defense.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2020

Justin Gaethje is looking to ruin Dana White and Ali Abdelaziz’s plans and day by beating Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. In the lead up to UFC 254, Nurmagomedov revealed Dana White and Abdelaziz told him they had something special for him if he beats Gaethje at UFC 254. So, for “The Highlight” he says he wants to ruin all their plans by pulling off the upset and beating Nurmagomedov.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov is not impressed with the newly signed UFC lightweight, Michael Chandler. Following Chandler’s knockout win over Benson Henderson under the Bellator banner, he became a free agent. Shortly thereafter, he signed with the UFC and it was announced he would be the backup fighter for the lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.

Adam Martin - October 19, 2020

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov explained why Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2 has no impact on the UFC lightweight division. The UFC is targeting the rematch between “Notorious” and “The Diamond” to take place on January 23, 2021. It’s an important fight for both men, with the winner likely next in line to fight the winner of the UFC 254 main event between Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. However, McGregor vs. Poirier 2 is not a lightweight bout, but it will instead take place in the UFC welterweight division according to McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh.

Tom Taylor - October 19, 2020

Aung La N Sang, who currently holds the ONE middleweight and light heavyweight titles, never doubted he’d fight in 2020. Even amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Burmese champion had faith that ONE Championship would find a way to get him back into the cage. That faith proved well-placed, as he’s closing in on an October 30 middleweight title defense against unbeaten Dutchman Reinier de Ridder.

Adam Martin - October 19, 2020

UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley says U.S. President Donald Trump called Dana White after his viral KO, adding he still works at Walgreens. Buckley knocked out Impa Kasanganay in stunning fashion at UFC Fight Island 5 with a spinning back kick right to the dome. Buckley’s knockout went viral, with celebrities such as Kanye West giving him a shoutout on social media. The knockout also earned Buckley his first official UFC victory and gave him a much-needed $50,000 bonus award.