MMA News
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas officially announces retirement
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas has officially announced his retirement. Lamas teased his potential retirement from competition after his decision win over short-notice replacement opponent Bill Algeo late last month. On Monday, the former UFC featherweight title challenger made it official, and explained how a missing rosary helped him make his decision.
UFC Vegas 10: “Waterson vs. Hill” Fight Card and Start Times
Harry Kettle - September 7, 2020
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to our screens once again this weekend for UFC Vegas 10: Waterson vs. Hill. Event: UFC Vegas 10: Waterson vs. Hill Date: Saturday, 12th September 2020 Location: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada Broadcast: ESPN+ (5pm/8pm EST)
Ben Askren reacts to Nick Diaz comeback news
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
Former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren has chimed in on the news that Nick Diaz is plotting a comeback. Diaz, the former Strikeforce welterweight champ and a former UFC welterweight title challenger, has reportedly undergone a test weight cut and is plotting a comeback in 2021. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani shared this exciting news on Sunday evening.
Mike Tyson tells Joe Rogan he finds fighting "orgasmic"
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson recently told UFC commentator Joe Rogan that he finds training and fighting to be “orgasmic.” Tyson, who is gearing up for an eight-round, heavyweight exhibition fight with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., was a guest on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
Kamaru Usman sees Covington fight as "best and possibly the worst case scenario for Tyron Woodley"
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has shared some interesting insights on the upcoming fight between Colby Covington and Tyron Woodley. Usman holds victories over both men. He beat Woodley in early 2019 to win the welterweight title, then defended the belt against Covington in late 2019.
Kamaru Usman shares high praise for UFC Vegas 9 winner Michel Pereira
Natasha Hooper - September 7, 2020
Kamaru Usman praised Michel Pereira for his performance at UFC Vegas 9. The UFC welterweight champion was paying close attention to the action in Las Vegas, which took place on Saturday. Usman was on analyst duties for the ESPN+ broadcast, which is when he commended Pereira on his submission victory against Zelim Imadaev.
Michel Pereira not interested in rematching “coward” Diego Sanchez
Harry Kettle - September 7, 2020
UFC star Michel Pereira isn’t interested in a rematch with former opponent and UFC veteran Diego Sanchez. Pereira returned to the Octagon this past weekend with an incredible performance against Zelim Imadaev, ending with him submitting the Russian in the third and final round. It was the first time Pereira fought since his controversial disqualification loss to the aforementioned Sanchez in February.
Nick Diaz targeting return to UFC in 2021, successfully completes test weight cut
Adam Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC welterweight superstar Nick Diaz is targeting a return to the UFC in 2021 and on Sunday successfully completed a test weight cut. ESPN’s Ariel Helwani spoke to Diaz’s manager Kevin Mubenga, who confirmed that Diaz is “100 percent” planning on fighting again and is targeting a return to the Octagon in 2021. Additionally, Diaz successfully completed a test weight cut, his first weight cut in over four years. Helwani also shared a video of Diaz following his test cut, adding that “The Stockton Bad Boy” weighs in the 175lbs – 165lbs range.
Austin Vanderford tests positive for COVID-19
Adam Martin - September 6, 2020
Bellator middleweight contender Austin Vanderford, the husband of Bare Knuckle FC star Paige VanZant, has tested positive for COVID-19. Vanderford announced the positive test for the coronavirus on his social media. The undefeated middleweight also said that this is his second positive test for COVID-19. You can take a look below at Vanderford’s statement about his positive test via his Instagram.
Diego Sanchez praises former opponent Michel Pereira, explains desire to minimize head trauma
Adam Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC welterweight legend Diego Sanchez praised his former opponent Michel Pereira while explaining his desire to minimize head trauma. Sanchez fought Pereira at UFC Rio Rancho earlier this year and won the fight via DQ in the third round after receiving an illegal knee to the head on the ground. Most observers believe that Pereira was well on his way to a decision win before the illegal knee, but after Sanchez couldn’t continue, the referee awarded him the disqualification victory. Some fans and media believe Sanchez should retire, but on paper, he has now won three of his last four fights. He takes on Jake Matthews at UFC 253 in what could be his retirement fight.
UFC on ESPN+ 34 Bonus Report: Ovince Saint Preux wins $50,000 for walk-off KO over Alonzo Menifield
Adam Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Ovince Saint Preux was among four fighters who won $50,000 bonuses following Saturday night’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 event. The UFC announced the traditional post-fight bonuses following the event. Winning bonuses were Saint Preux for his second-round KO over Alonzo Menifield in the co-main event; welterweight Michel Pereira for his third-round submission win over Zelim Imadaev; middleweight Andre Muniz for his first-round armbar submission of Bartosz Fabinski; and featherweight Brian Kelleher for his quick guillotine choke over Ray Rodriguez.
Michel Pereira explains why he slapped Zelim Imadaev at UFC on ESPN+ 34
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC welterweight Michel Pereira explained why he slapped rival Zelim Imadaev during their fight at UFC on ESPN+ 34. Pereira defeated Imadaev in a highly-entertaining welterweight fight that ended late in the third round after a controversial referee stoppage. Pereira had dominated nearly the entire first 14 minutes of the fight and was cruising to a decision before attempting a rear-naked choke in the final minute of the fight. Referee Chris Tognoni ended up stopping the fight even though it didn’t appear Imadaev tapped, though Pereira would have won regardless.
Alistair Overeem releases statement following TKO win over Augusto Sakai
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem has released a statement following his fifth-round TKO win over Augusto Sakai at UFC on ESPN+ 34. Despite being 40 years old, Overeem continues to defy Father Time and defeat younger opponents. After a competitive first three rounds to the fight against Sakai, Overeem really began to take charge in the fourth round where he scored a 10-8 round on all three judges scorecards, before finishing the fight via ground-and-pound TKO early in the fifth.
Ovince Saint Preux says he wanted to get COVID-19 two months ago to get it in and out of his system
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC light heavyweight contender Ovince Saint Preux says he wanted to get COVID-19 two months ago so it could get in and out of his system. OSP fought Alonzo Menifield in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 34 card and knocked him out in devastating fashion in the second round in what was one of the most impressive performances of his career. The fight was originally set to take place two weeks ago but OSP tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight was rescheduled for two weeks later. If you ask OSP, catching COVID-19 wasn’t the issue, it was the timing of it all.
Video | Justin Gaethje eats a huge head kick during preparation for Khabib Nurmagomedov title bout
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
Watch a video of UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje eating a massive head kick during his training camp for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Gaethje takes on UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov for the undisputed UFC lightweight belt at UFC 254 on Fight Island in October. It’s by far the biggest fight of Gaethje’s career and he has been putting in the rounds in his training camp in preparation for what is surely going to be a tough fight against an incredible fighter in Nurmagomedov.
Alistair Overeem responds to Derrick Lewis’ trash talk, says his teammate Curtis Blaydes will “destroy him”
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem believes his teammate Curtis Blaydes will “destroy” Derrick Lewis when they fight later this year. Overeem picked up a fifth-round TKO win over Augusto Sakai in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 34 on Saturday night. Throughout the fight, tweets from Lewis appeared on the screen with him trolling Overeem, saying that he was losing the fight while he was beating up Sakai. Fans online thought it was hilarious, but Overeem didn’t care so much for it.
Alistair Overeem uninterested in rematching Jairzinho Rozenstruik, believes the ref made a bad call in their previous fight
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem says he is not particularly interested in a rematch against rival Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Overeem picked up his second straight win on Saturday night at UFC on ESPN+ 34, when he finished Augusto Sakai in the main event via fifth-round TKO. The win marked Overeem’s fourth victory in his last five fights, with his lone loss in that time period coming against Rozenstruik in a fight that had a somewhat controversial ending.
Michel Pereira calls out BMF champion Jorge Masvidal after strangling Zelim Imadaev
Chris Taylor - September 5, 2020
Fan favorite UFC welterweight Michel Pereira called out BMF champion Jorge Masvidal following his submission victory over Zelim Imadaev. Pereira (24-11 MMA) squared off with Imedaev (8-3 MMA) on tonight’s UFC Vegas 9 main card and wound up emerging victorious by way of rear-naked choke submission.