MMA News
Khabib Nurmagomedov announces annual MMA tournament in memory of late father
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is launching an annual mixed martial arts tournament in memory of his late father and mentor, Abdulmanap. Nurmagomedov revealed the details of this tournament in an interview with Match TV, announcing that the first iteration of the event will occur this year.
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.
Video | Paulo Costa chases down, beats up Israel Adesanya impersonator
Tom Taylor - September 7, 2020
Paulo Costa has brought in a tall, rangy Muay Thai specialist to help him prepare for his upcoming fight with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. While this will no doubt be a fruitful move in terms of preparation for the fight, which headlines the UFC 253 card on September 26, it’s also provided an opportunity for a bit of fun in the gym.
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.
Bethe Correia gets opponent for retirement fight in December
Adam Martin - September 6, 2020
Veteran UFC women’s bantamweight Bethe Correia will retire following a matchup against Yanan Wu at a UFC event scheduled for December. Correia was reportedly released by the UFC in August, however it appears she is getting one last fight in the Octagon. According to AG Fight, Correia is set to take on Wu on December 5, at a UFC Fight Night card headlined by middleweights Darren Till and Jack Hermansson. Correia has confirmed via her Instagram this is indeed her retirement fight.
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.
Cody Garbrandt fires back at Team Figueiredo: “Wallid bring a f*ckin body bag so you can carry this golem back to Brazil”
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC flyweight title contender Cody Garbrandt fired back at the team of recently-crowned UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Garbrandt takes on Figueiredo in his first fight at flyweight when the two meet in the main event of UFC 255 on November 21. Garbrandt, the former UFC bantamweight champion, has been getting into it with Figueiredo on social media lately so it was no surprise when he fired back following some pointed comments by Figueiredo’s manager Wallid Ismail.
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.
UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic pulls rank on Jon Jones: “If anything I would get the Brock Lesnar fight first”
Adam D Martin - September 6, 2020
UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic believes that it should be him fighting Brock Lesnar in his return to the Octagon, not Jon Jones. Rumors have been circulating as of late that Lesnar may make a comeback to mixed martial arts after he recently became a free agent following the expiration of his contract with the WWE. Immediately Jones, who plans on moving up to heavyweight for his next outing, took to social media to announce that he would like to fight Lesnar next in a fight that UFC president Dana White says would mark a “good introduction” for Jones into the UFC heavyweight division.
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.