MMA News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pros react after Alistair Overeem TKO's Augusto Sakai at UFC Vegas 9
Chris Taylor - September 5, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 9 event was headlined by a key heavyweight bout featuring former title challenger Alistair Overeem taking on Augusto Sakai. Overeem (46-18 MMA) entered tonight’s headliner looking to build off the momentum of his recent TKO victory over Walt Harris. The former UFC heavyweight title challenger, ‘The Reem’, had gone 3-1 over his past four Octagon appearances, with his lone loss in that time coming to Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
UFC Vegas 9 Results: Alistair Overeem TKO's Augusto Sakai (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - September 5, 2020
Tonight’s UFC Vegas 9 event is headlined by a key heavyweight bout featuring former title challenger Alistair Overeem taking on Augusto Sakai. Overeem (46-18 MMA) will enter tonight’s headliner looking to build off the momentum of his recent TKO victory over Walt Harris. The former UFC heavyweight title challenger, ‘The Reem’, has gone 3-1 over his past four Octagon appearances, with his lone loss in that time coming to Jairzinho Rozenstruik.