MMA News

Tom Taylor - September 2, 2020

Dominick Reyes is grateful for his rivalry with former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but concedes that their rivalry has reached its conclusion. Reyes challenged Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in February, and ultimately lost a hotly debated unanimous decision. After this controversial outcome, he was adamant that he deserved a second crack at the champion. In the end, however, Jones vacated the light heavyweight title to move up to the heavyweight division, and Reyes was booked for a fight with Poland’s Jan Blachowicz, which will crown the new light heavyweight champ.

Harry Kettle - September 2, 2020

Former UFC welterweight contender Ben Askren isn’t a fan of the UFC 256 title showdown between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. It’s safe to say that “Funky” is one of the most outspoken figures in recent MMA history, and while his time with the Ultimate Fighting Championship didn’t quite go to plan, he still knows how to rile people up on social media.

Tom Taylor - September 2, 2020

ONE Championship star Vitor Belfort is hoping to get his hands on former WWE and UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Belfort, who spent many years as one of the UFC’s top middleweights, recently made the jump over to ONE Championship. While he was briefly linked to a special-rules fight with Alain Ngalani, that plan hit a snag due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tom Taylor - September 2, 2020

UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith says he’s having a tough time recovering from his recent decision loss to Aleksandar Rakic. Smith and Rakic collided in the main event of UFC Vegas 8 last Saturday, with Rakic ultimately winning a clear-cut unanimous decision. In defeat, Smith fell onto a two-fight skid, having also come up short against Glover Teixeira earlier this year.

Natasha Hooper - September 2, 2020

As soon as he exited the operating theatre, Ben Askren took aim at Sean O’Malley, encouraging him to “toughen up a little bit.” Askren has long been suffering from a hip injury which ultimately impacted his fights against Demian Maia, Jorge Masvidal, and his decision to retire in November 2019. His affliction is the collateral damage of his accomplished wrestling and MMA career which saw him climb through the ranks of Bellator and ONE Championship and perform in the Olympics.

Adam Martin - September 1, 2020

UFC president Dana White says Jon Jones “can’t jump over” Francis Ngannou for the next heavyweight title shot against Stipe Miocic. Jones recently vacated the UFC light heavyweight title and announced his move up to heavyweight. “Bones” has been lifting weights in an effort to put on more mass before making the move up a weight class, where he hopes to land an immediate title shot against Miocic. However, the No. 1 contender for Miocic’s belt is Ngannou, who has won his last four fights by knockout, meaning Jones may have to wait a while to get his title shot.

Adam Martin - September 1, 2020

UFC president Dana White says a fight against Brock Lesnar would be a “good introduction” for Jon Jones at heavyweight. Reports surfaced this week that Lesnar, the former UFC heavyweight champion, is a free agent after his contract with the WWE wrapped up. Already Lesnar has been connected to a return to MMA, with Jones calling for a fight against him, as well as Bellator president Scott Coker admitting interest in a money fight against heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko.

Alfredo Zullino - September 1, 2020

Who are mixed martial artists? A group of men and women punching each other for money. But who are they once they get home, or who were they before? They might have been a math teacher, a real estate agent, a model, an office worker. They also might be a drug dealer. That’s the story of Walter Pugliesi.

Cole Shelton - September 1, 2020

Tyron Woodley has brought in Jorge Masvidal to train with him ahead of his UFC Vegas 11 main event scrap against Colby Covington. Woodley used to train at American Top Team alongside Masvidal and Covington, yet over the past couple of years, he and Covington started to dislike one another. During that same stretch, Masvidal and Covington also had a falling out so “Gamebred” has decided to train with Woodley.

Cole Shelton - September 1, 2020

Montana De La Rosa made a big career change ahead of her UFC Vegas 9 fight against Viviane Araujo. For the majority of her career, Montana and her husband, Mark, were training in a small gym in Fort Worth, Texas. Yet, ahead of her UFC Vegas 9 fight, Montana decided she needed a change. That change was going to Colorado to train at Team Elevation.

Cole Shelton - September 1, 2020

Leon Edwards is not a fan of Jorge Masvidal rematching Nate Diaz. Earlier on Tuesday, news came out that Masvidal and Diaz would be having their rematch in December or January with the BMF title on the line. It is obviously a massive fight, but many fans wanted to see Masvidal-Edwards especially after the rivalry they have.

Adam Martin - September 1, 2020

MMA heavyweight legend Josh Barnett believes that Brock Lesnar is using mixed martial arts as leverage to re-sign with the WWE. Reports emerged this week that Lesnar is now a free agent after his contract with the WWE expired, and he has already been connected to a return to MMA. The former UFC heavyweight champion Lesnar has already been called out by Jon Jones on social media and Bellator president Scott Coker has admitted he is interested in matching up Lesnar against Fedor Emelianenko. But Barnett isn’t having any of the rumors.

Tom Taylor - September 1, 2020

UFC flyweight contender Jessica Eye has found herself in a tough spot as she recovers from a Staph infection and a recent surgery. Speaking on Twitter on Tuesday, Eye opened up to her followers about her “desperate” situation, and conceded that she’s “begging” for help.

Adam Martin - September 1, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson offered to help Brock Lesnar train for a potential heavyweight fight against Jon Jones. Reports emerged this week that Lesnar is currently a free agent after his contract with the WWE expired, and already there are rumors that Lesnar could make a return to mixed martial arts. He has already been connected to a fight in the UFC against Jon Jones — who says he will beat Lesnar — and a fight in Bellator against the great Fedor Emelianenko. If he does return, then he has a training partner ready and willing in Ferguson.

Tom Taylor - September 1, 2020

Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg believes retired two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier is a “shill” for the Las Vegas-based promotion. Speaking on a recent episode of ESPN’s DC and Helwani show, Cormier divulged that he was paid a $1M bonus after his 2015 decision loss to Jon Jones. He also revealed that he received a $400,000 bonus after he defeated Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in 2015.

Adam Martin - September 1, 2020

The opening betting odds have been released for potential heavyweight matchups between Brock Lesnar versus Jon Jones and Fedor Emelianenko. Reports surfaced on Monday that Lesnar is currently a free agent after his contract with WWE expired. Rumors have already popped up that Lesnar could make a return to MMA, where he starred as the UFC heavyweight champion from 2008 to 2010. If Lesnar does return to MMA, he could potentially fight again in the UFC or possibly in Bellator, whose president Scott Coker has already admitted he’s interested in bringing Lesnar aboard.

Andrew Whitelaw - September 1, 2020

Eddie Alvarez has shot down talk of a trilogy against former Bellator rival Michael Chandler. The pair first met in 2011 in a bout that is now considered a classic.

Tom Taylor - September 1, 2020

Daniel Cormier believes Stipe Miocic deserved the judges’ decision in their UFC 252 trilogy fight for the promotion’s heavyweight championship. On the latest episode of DC and Helwani on ESPN, Cormier opened up on his loss to Miocic—the final fight of his career—for the first time.