UFC News
Rafael Dos Anjos: Conor McGregor fight would be 'worth the drop in weight'
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
If it wasn’t for former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, we never would have seen the two wars between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Before Eddie Alvarez was the lightweight champion, that label belonged to Dos Anjos who was supposed to be McGregor’s first champion vs champion bout as McGregor came up from the featherweight division that he was holding the title in.
Marlon Moraes says his next fight has to be for the title
Drake Riggs - February 12, 2019
It’s hard to argue that there is a bantamweight on the UFC roster who has been more impressive than Marlon Moraes as of late. The ‘magical’ former World Series of Fighting king has absolutely torn through his top 10 opposition in his last three outings.
Cris Cyborg doesn't think Amanda Nunes loss will hurt UFC contract negotiations
Cole Shelton - February 12, 2019
Cris Cyborg is one of the greatest female fighters to ever compete in MMA. For well over a decade, she was simply dominant, going 20-0-1 after losing her first professional fight. Then, at UFC 232, Cyborg had her toughest fight to date when Amanda Nunes moved up in weight to challenge her for the UFC featherweight title. Many believe it would be a close fight, but Nunes shocked the world. She knocked Cyborg out in just 51 seconds to become the new UFC featherweight champion.
Referee Marc Goddard discusses Crute vs. Alvey stoppage after backlash
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Not everybody agreed with the stoppage in last weekend’s Jim Crute vs. Sam Alvey fight. UFC President Dana White, for example, was adamant that referee Marc Goddard stopped the action too early, and that Alvey should have been given a bit more time to recover. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Marc Goddard gave his take on the stoppage in this fight. In hindsight, he admits that he perhaps could have handled the situation differently, but he also reminds his detractors that he’s forced to act decisively in mere milliseconds, oftentimes when a fighter’s safety is on the line.
Johnny Walker steps in against Misha Cirkunov at UFC 235
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Rising light heavyweight prospect Johnny Walker has been booked for his next fight — and it’s a big one. The Brazilian knockout artist has stepped in to replace the injured Ovince Saint Preux against Canada’s Misha Cirkunov at UFC 235, which goes down on March 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. News of this new matchup was first reported by MMA Fighting.
Anderson Silva hopes Israel Adesanya becomes UFC champion
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Last weekend, in the last-minute main event of UFC 234, former UFC middleweight champ and undeniable MMA legend Anderson Silva came up short in an exciting, three-round battle with surging contender Israel Adesanya. In the wake of this fight, Anderson Silva has made no secret of his respect and admiration for Adesanya. In fact, he even hopes to see the Nigeria-born New Zealander become a UFC champion in the future.
Nate Diaz to corner Kron Gracie at UFC Phoenix
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Fan favorite UFC lightweight contender Nate Diaz will be returning to the cage this weekend at UFC Phoenix on ESPN, he just won’t be doing any fighting. Instead, the younger Diaz brother will be cornering BJJ ace Kron Gracie in his UFC debut opposite the always exciting Alex Caceres. ESPN’s Greg Rosenstein has the details:
VIDEO | Joe Rogan explains his primary goal when interviewing UFC fighters
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
Joe Rogan has interviewed hundreds and hundreds of fighters over the years, but he’s never felt threatened by any of them. Speaking on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC commentator was asked by Brazilian actor Rafinha Bastos if he has ever felt unsafe while interviewing a fighter. Rogan responded with a firm ‘no’ and outlined his primary goal in every fighter interview he conducts.
Kelvin Gastelum roasts 'leper' Conor McGregor following UFC 234
Drake Riggs - February 11, 2019
UFC 234 ended up being a pretty wild night of action as expected. Unfortunately, on the day of the event, it had lost its headliner as the middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker, had to undergo emergency hernia surgery.
Johnny Walker hopes to fill in for Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 235
Drake Riggs - February 11, 2019
Brazil’s Johnny Walker has wasted little to no time getting his UFC career started. The 16-3 26-year old has already racked up two stunningly impressive highlight reel knockout wins since entering the promotion late last year.
Israel Adesanya responds to critique from Chris Weidman and Paulo Costa
Drake Riggs - February 11, 2019
Criticism is always going to find its way to athletes in professional sports. Whether it be from fans or even peers. At UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia this past weekend, ‘The Last Stylebender’ Israel Adesanya headlined his first UFC pay-per-view event.
Volkan Oezdemir believes Jon Jones needs to finish Anthony Smith quickly
Cole Shelton - February 11, 2019
Anthony Smith has been on a roll since moving up to light heavyweight. First, he had quick knockouts over former champions in Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua. Then, he submitted Volkan Oezdemir in the main event of UFC Moncton in October. That third win set Smith up for a title shot at UFC 235 against arguably the greatest fighter of all time, Jon Jones.
Biggest winners from UFC 234
Mike Straus - February 11, 2019
No that it is over let’s take a look at the biggest winners from last weekend’s UFC 234 card. Unfortunately, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was forced to have surgery to fix a hernia rather than defend his title against Kelvin Gastelum in the main event, but luckily the co-main event featured Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya.
Daniel Cormier confirms he is delaying retirement
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
As long suspected, UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will not be retiring when he turns 40 in March, as he originally planned. The champ confirmed this news on The MMA Hour on Monday.
Coach confident Ryan Bader could finish Daniel Cormier
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
Daniel Cormier recently became the first fighter in UFC history to wear the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles concurrently, first capturing the vacant belt with a defeat of Anthony Johnson, then thumping Stipe Miocic to capture the heavyweight belt. Ryan Bader recently accomplished the same feat under the Bellator banner, first defeating Phil Davis to win the light heavyweight belt, and then defeating Fedor Emelianenko to capture the vacant heavyweight belt.
Nick Diaz shuts down comeback talk: 'I just want to party'
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
Speaking at the UFC 234 post-fight press conference, Anderson Silva called for a rematch with former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz, who he battled to a no contest in early 2015. In fact, Silva claimed he’d actually been in contact with Diaz’s team about this fight. “I think it’s a very interesting fight,” Silva told the media on the scene (via MMAjunkie). “I talked to Nick’s manager a couple months ago, and Nick said, ‘OK, let’s go do it. Let’s talk to Dana (White).’ I’m just waiting for Dana.”
Dana White wants Paige VanZant vs. Montana De La Rosa next
James Lynch - February 11, 2019
After taking home a $50,000 bonus for beating Nadia Kassem at UFC 234, flyweight contender Montana De La Rosa has her sights on her next big payday: a matchup with Paige VanZant. The 23-year-old expressed interest in the fight following her victory and UFC President Dana White warmed up to the idea as well.
Daniel Cormier opens up on injury that is slowing down UFC return
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
It’s been awhile since we’ve seen UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier in the cage — since he defeated Derrick Lewis by submission at UFC 230 in November, to be exact. The champ’s prolonged absence is due to a back injury he sustained in that fight.