MMA News
UFC cuts four fighters from roster
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
The UFC has parted ways with four fighters, cutting Mara Romero Borella, Iuri Alcantara, Jeff Hughes and Khadis Ibragimov from its roster. UFC officials confirmed this news to MMA Fighting.
Cody Garbrandt issues statement on UFC 255 withdrawal
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt has issued a statement on his exit from a planned title fight with UFC flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo. Garbrandt was expected to challenge Figueiredo for the flyweight title at UFC 255 this November. Unfortunately, news surfaced on Friday that he has been forced out of this contest, and replaced by Alex Perez, who was originally scheduled to fight Brandon Moreno on the same card.
ONE Championship announces atomweight grand prix
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
ONE Championship will kick off 2021 with a grand prix tournament in the atomweight division. The one atomweight title has long been held by Angela Lee. However, Lee and her husband Bruno Pucci recently announced that they’re expecting their first child, which means the long-time titleholder will be out of action for some time.
Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval targeted to take place at UFC 255
Cole Shelton - October 2, 2020
Brandon Moreno will remain on UFC 255 and be in a number one contender fight. Originally, Moreno was supposed to fight Alex Perez while Deiveson Figueiredo was going to defend his belt against Cody Garbrandt. Yet, on Friday it was revealed Garbrandt is out of the fight and Perez will now be fighting for the belt.
Cody Garbrandt out of UFC 255 flyweight title fight, will be replaced by Alex Perez
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is out of his planned UFC 255 title fight with reigning flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Alex Perez, who was scheduled to take on Brandon Moreno on the same card, will now step in against the champion. Brazilian publication Combate was first to report the news that Garbrandt is out of the fight. BJPENN.com has since confirmed the news.
UFC Fight Island 4 weigh-in results: Holm, Aldana make weight
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
On Saturday night, the UFC will return to our screens with the under-the-radar UFC Fight Island 4 card on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The UFC Fight Island 4 event will be topped by a women’s bantamweight fight between the division’s former champion, Holly Holm, and surging Mexican contender Irene Aldana. If Aldana wins this fight, the expectation is that she’ll earn a crack at reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, while Holm could also be right back in title contention with a victory.
ONE atomweight champ Angela Lee announces pregnancy
Tom Taylor - October 2, 2020
ONE atomweight world champion Angela Lee and her husband, ONE lightweight contender Bruno Pucci, have announced that they’re having a baby. The two fighters made their announcements on social media on Friday.
Yoel Romero clearly has his sights set on a future rematch with Israel Adesanya
Harry Kettle - October 2, 2020
UFC middleweight Yoel Romero appears to be setting his sights on another clash with 185-pound king Israel Adesanya. The 43-year-old veteran has lost four of his last five fights in the UFC, with his latest defeat being a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Adesanya when the two fought over the Middleweight Championship at UFC 248.
Pros react to potential Israel Adesanya vs. Jon Jones fight
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
The beef between Ultimate Fighting Championship superstars Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones reignited following Saturday’s UFC 253 event. This past weekend on Fight Island, reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was able to keep his perfect record in check by handing Paulo Costa the first loss of his mixed martial arts career.
Diego Sanchez issues statement following UFC 253 loss to Jake Matthews
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
Former UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez was looking to secure a future bout with Conor McGregor by impressively defeating Jake Matthews at UFC 253. Sanchez had expressed interest in having his final fight be against McGregor during UFC 253 fight week.
Report | UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa was a huge success
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
If the pay-per-view numbers being reported by Yahoo Sports are true, then last weekend’s UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa event was a massive success. This past Saturday night on Fight Island undisputed middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya put his unblemished record and championship gold on the line against undefeated contender Paulo Costa.
Jessica-Rose Clark has some bad news, she will be out of action until mid-2021
Chris Taylor - October 1, 2020
Fan favorite UFC women’s bantamweight fighter Jessica-Rose Clark revealed some bad news on Thursday, she will be out of action until mid-2021. The news comes shortly following Clark’s dominant TKO victory over Sarah Alpar at last month’s UFC Vegas 11 event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dana White promised him "something special" after UFC 254, manager drops hint
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Khabib Nurmagomedov provided a hint on his future in fighting earlier today. The undefeated lightweight champion is set to defend his belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Many pundits are considering it the toughest test of his career. Yet, he remains confident he will get his hand raised. So, on a media call, he revealed Dana White has promised him something special if he wins.
Jon Jones continues trash talk of Israel Adesanya: "I’m waiting for you"
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Jon Jones has continued to take aim at Israel Adesanya. Ever since Adesanya TKO’d Paulo Costa at UFC 253 to defend his belt, Jones and Adesanya have been trash-talking one another. It has also been unpleasant as both men bringing each other’s families into it. So, after all the talk, “Bones” says he wonders if the middleweight champ will even want to fight him come 2021 as he said.
Justin Gaethje goes off on “coward” Colby Covington: “He’s a fake person”
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje went off on the “coward” Colby Covington, saying the star welterweight he is a “fake person.” Gaethje and Covington were both recently invited to United States President Donald Trump’s rally in Nevada and there were photographs released of Covington putting his arm on Gaethje’s shoulder, which surprised a lot of people. Covington is one of the most polarizing figures in the sport today as he’s either loved or hated. Count Gaethje among the latter of those people, as “The Highlight” made it clear he does not like Covington.
Betting odds released for Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier rematch
Adam Martin - October 1, 2020
The betting odds have been released for a potential rematch between UFC superstar Conor McGregor and top-ranked lightweight Dustin Poirier. McGregor and Poirier first met back at UFC 178 in September 2014, back when both men fought in the featherweight division. McGregor knocked out Poirier that night, and six years later there are now discussions about a potential rematch. McGregor has proposed a charity MMA fight against Poirier, who has accepted. UFC president Dana White has also confirmed the world’s leading MMA promotion has spoken to both men about a fight.
Video | Paulo Costa returns to training, drops timeframe in next fight
Tom Taylor - October 1, 2020
Paulo Costa is already back in the gym following his loss to Israel Adesanya, and he’s hoping to get back in the Octagon in December. Costa challenged Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 last Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. Despite being hailed as the champion’s toughest foe to date, he was beaten fairly decisively, succumbing to a check-hook and volley of followup ground strikes in the second round.
Casey Kenney says all Heili Alateng has is "a basic right hand and wrestling," expects to finish him
Cole Shelton - October 1, 2020
Casey Kenney was surprised Heili Alateng was his next opponent but knows it is a good matchup for him. Kenney is coming off a very impressive submission win over Louis Smolka and he thought a ranked opponent could be next. Yet, that will not be the case but he will take on Alateng who is 2-0 in the UFC, but Kenney still isn’t too impressed with him.