UFC News
Michael Bisping: Masvidal vs. Diaz more exciting than Usman vs. Covington
Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019
According to Michael Bisping, a potential welterweight contender bout between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz is a bigger deal than the upcoming welterweight title fight between champ Kamaru Usman and challenger Colby Covington. After successfully beating Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, Diaz called for a fight against the formidable contender Masvidal. Masvidal was receptive of this callout.
VIDEO | Dana White consoles Daniel Cormier backstage after UFC 241 loss
Adam Martin - August 27, 2019
In the aftermath of UFC 241, a video has been released showing UFC president Dana White consoling Daniel Cormier after Cormier’s TKO loss to Stipe Miocic. Reddit user u/metanoia09 posted the video on r/mma and it’s a tough one to watch.
Report | James Vick to make welterweight debut against Niko Price
Mike Heck - August 27, 2019
The UFC’s return to Tampa, Florida is coming together nicely with the addition of a welterweight matchup between former lightweight James Vick and Niko Price. According to a report on Monday from FloCombat, Vick will make his welterweight debut against Price at UFC on the card. The event will take place Oct. 12 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida and will be headlined by a women’s strawweight bout between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Michelle Waterson. It will air on ESPN+.
Henry Cejudo calls for 'easy fight' against Dominick Cruz
Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019
Two-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo called out another fighter last night, this time targeting former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Watch the video, posted to his Twitter account, here:
Francis Ngannou explains why Miocic rematch will be different
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019
In early 2018, Francis Ngannou stepped into the Octagon to battle Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title. The widespread expectation — supported by the bout’s betting odds — was that Ngannou would come out on top in this fight. In the end, however, he was soundly outfought by the amply more experienced champion, losing a lopsided unanimous decision. Today, when Stipe Miocic is once again the heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has repositioned himself as the division’s top contender. A rematch between the two heavyweight stars seems like a foregone conclusion, it’s just a question of when.
Opinion: Nate Diaz and the rise of the antihero
Natasha Hooper - August 27, 2019
Nate Diaz is helping to usher in the dawn of a UFC era where the antihero reigns supreme. The Stockton native returned to the Octagon at UFC 241, following a three-year hiatus. Diaz silenced his naysayers by leading the fight and defeating Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision. .
Islam Makhachev fires back at 'bum' Dillon Danis
Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019
On Monday, Conor McGregor stablemate Dillon Danis took a shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev, keeping the beef between their two teams alive and well. https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1166006545391468546
Aljamain Sterling calls for interim bantamweight title fight against Petr Yan
Adam Martin - August 26, 2019
Knowing that UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo will be out of action for a while, top-ranked contender Aljamain Sterling is now eyeing a fight with Petr Yan for an interim belt. “The Funkmaster” spoke to Damon Martin at MMAFighting.com and said that with Cejudo likely fighting Joseph Benavidez for the UFC flyweight belt next, he doesn’t want to sit and wait around for him. That’s why he is targeting a fight against one of the division’s hottest fighters in Yan, and he wants an interim title on the line.
Jon Jones sends warm message after Daniel Cormier loses father to cancer
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019
Late last week, former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier announced the tragic passing of his father. “Today I lost my hero to cancer, my father was the bravest, strongest, hardest working and most caring person I’ve ever known. Always the life of the party and made everyone he ever came in contact with feel good. I never could have imagined we would be going through this right now. All the lessons I wanna try and pass along I learned from my dad. You know its about the legacy we leave behind and my dads legacy will be one of just a great person, loving husband and father and friend to everyone.” Daniel Cormier wrote on Instagram. “If you’ve ever met Percy Benoit you’re better for it. We were able to see some amazing things pops and I hope you enjoyed the ride, I only wanted to make you proud. I love you pop, you were the strength of this family, now you get to rest. No more pain. Love you Dad #rip #cancersucks” – Daniel Cormier on Instagram.
Brendan Schaub says fans relate to Nate Diaz being 'screwed over' by UFC
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 26, 2019
Brendan Schaub has a theory for one of the reasons why fans gravitate towards Nate Diaz. Diaz has fight fans excited for a potential showdown with Jorge Masvidal. The Stockton native called out “Gamebred” after defeating Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision. For many, UFC 241 solidified Diaz’s status as a true draw even without his rival Conor McGregor.
CB Dollaway accepts USADA sanction for using 'multiple prohibited substances'
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019
CB Dollaway, a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 7 and a veteran of the UFC middleweight division, has been suspended for two years by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after “testing positive for multiple prohibited substances and using a prohibited method.” USADA revealed this unfortunate CB Dollaway news in an official statement.
Paige VanZant shares reasons for free agency plans
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019
Paige VanZant has one fight left on her current UFC contract, and when that’s wrapped up, she plans on testing her value as a free agent. Speaking to Robin Black of DAZN ahead of last weekend’s Bellator 225 card VanZant divulged that her interest in free agency is due in part to a desire to fight on a card alongside her husband, Bellator middleweight Austin Vanderford.
TUF 28 winner Juan Espino explains absence, gives timeframe for return
Cole Shelton - August 26, 2019
If you watched The Ultimate Fighter 28 you would know the two winners were Juan Espino and Macy Chiasson. Since winning it, Chiasson has fought twice and has her third fight booked. Juan Espino, meanwhile, has still yet to fight. He beat Justin Frazier at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale in November of 2018 and has been out of action since. There has been no news on when he will fight, and no details on whether he was hurt or on what was keeping him out of the Octagon.
Michael Bisping says Conor McGregor would be 'B-side' in Nate Diaz trilogy bout
Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 26, 2019
Michael Bisping believes Nate Diaz has surpassed Conor McGregor in terms of popularity in the fight game. Since his August 2016 rematch against McGregor, Diaz has been disputing the notion that he can’t draw outside of sharing the Octagon with McGregor. He’s been at odds with UFC president Dana White, who once claimed that Diaz isn’t a “needle mover.” Diaz changed those opinions at the conclusion of UFC 241. The event broke a live gate record for MMA cards in the state of California.
Mark De La Rosa is ready to make some noise in the flyweight division
Natasha Hooper - August 26, 2019
Mark De La Rosa is ready to up the ante as he faces off against Kai Kara-France at UFC Shenzhen. The former 135-pounder is moving down to flyweight for the second time to face Kara-France in China on Saturday, August 31. Despite losing his most recent fight to Alex Perez earlier this year, De La Rosa is feeling confident about his upcoming fight.
Dillon Danis targets Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019
The beef between Team Conor McGregor and Team Khabib Nurmagomedov is seemingly alive and well. Nearly a year removed from McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s October, 2018 fight, which the latter won by submission, members of their respective entourages are still trading shots. The latest to do so is McGregor stablemate Dillon Danis, who called for a fight with Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev on Twitter. https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1166006545391468546
Frankie Edgar responds to callout from Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019
Last week, former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor partook in his first interview in quite awhile. In this interview, the Irish star named multiple potential opponents for his anticipated return to the cage. One of those opponents was former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, who recently announced his intention to move to bantamweight. “Who else is top of the list? Frankie Edgar is also up there on the list because he has similarities to Khabib,” McGregor said of Edgar. “He runs on the back foot and shoots on the single leg. I want these sort of similar bouts. And also, Frankie has been very respectful. He’s always respectful. He said, ‘I want to tell my his grandkids I fought Conor McGregor’, one day.
Chael Sonnen puts the UFC flyweight division on blast
Thomas Taylor - August 25, 2019
Chael Sonnen is not impressed by the fighters in the UFC flyweight division. Sonnen says that, after nearly finding itself on the chopping block, the UFC flyweight division was saved by its reigning champion Henry Cejudo, who helped renew interest in it. Unfortunately, Sonnen believes that the other fighters in the division have learned nothing from this experience.