UFC News
Khabib Nurmagomedov gives harsh assessment of Nate Diaz's record
Tom Taylor - January 21, 2019
Over the last few weeks, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and fan favorite contender Nate Diaz have engaged in a number of skirmishes on social media. If you thought this might eventually lead to a fight between them, however, think again. Speaking on Submission Radio this week, Khabib Nurmagomedov gave his assessment of Nate Diaz and his 19-11 pro record. Safe to say he’s not impressed.
Lando Vannata explains how he knew the UFC would re-sign him
James Lynch - January 21, 2019
Lando Vannata never had any doubts that he wouldn’t be back with the UFC. The 26-year-old came to terms with the UFC on a new four-fight deal and is set to face Marcos Rosa Mariano at UFC 234 on Feb. 9 “I figured [the UFC] would want to re-sign me. I’m a pretty exciting fighter, I put on a show every time I step into the cage,” Vannata told MMA News. “I wasn’t too surprised they came back looking to re-sign me to a new deal. I was keeping my options open but I figured they would want to [re-sign me] and if the figures were right then yeah I would go back. The UFC had exclusive rights [to negotiating].”
Debut UFC on ESPN card was reportedly a major success for both companies
Tom Taylor - January 21, 2019
According to a release from the ESPN Public Relations team, the first UFC on ESPN card was a massive success, driving hundreds of thousands of new ESPN+ subscriptions, and drawing massive viewership to the ESPN channel. Here’s what the release had to say:
EXCLUSIVE | Elias Theodorou seeks to strike cannabis from USADA banned substance list
Cole Shelton - January 21, 2019
Elias Theodorou’s toughest fight is not against any UFC fighter. Rather, it is taking on the United States Anti-Doping Agency to get a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for medical cannabis which has been prescribed by his doctor. Although cannabis is legalized in Canada where Theodorou lives, it doesn’t matter to USADA.
Dana White names next title challenger for Valentina Shevchenko
Tom Taylor - January 21, 2019
On Saturday night, after spoiling the UFC debut of former KSW star Ariane Lipski, Scottish flyweight contender Joanne Calderwood made a callout of fellow contender Jessica Eye. According to UFC President Dana White, however, Eye will likely be given the next shot at new UFC women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko — meaning Calderwood is out of luck for the moment. “I think Eye is next,” White said after Saturday night’s UFC Brooklyn card (via MMAjunkie)
Khabib Nurmagomedov shares the three names he would like to face before retiring
Drake Riggs - January 21, 2019
Russia’s first and only UFC champion is none other than ‘The Eagle’, the 27-0 Sambo machine, Khabib Nurmagomedov. In Nurmagomedov’s last time out, he participated in the biggest fight in UFC history when he made a successful title defense of his lightweight crown.
Dustin Poirier makes interesting claim about cancelled Nate Diaz fight
Thomas Taylor - January 20, 2019
Streaking UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier was briefly scheduled to return to the cage opposite Nate Diaz at UFC 230 in early November, but unfortunately, that plan was derailed when he sustained a hip injury that forced him off the card. At least, that’s what we thought. Responding to a fan on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, Dustin Poirier claimed that, by the time he withdrew from the card with a hip injury, Nate Diaz had already dropped out of the matchup himself.
Pros react to potential Conor McGregor vs. Cowboy Cerrone fight
Christopher Taylor - January 20, 2019
It appears that a lightweight fight against Cowboy Cerrone could be next for former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor. The former 155-pound title challenger, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (35-11 MMA), returned to the lightweight division yesterday evening following a ten-fight stint at welterweight.
Dana White updates on Greg Hardy's UFC future after DQ loss
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
Last night, in the co-main event of the UFC’s first card on ESPN, former NFL player Greg Hardy made his debut in the Octagon. In the end, this debut went rather disastrously for Hardy, as he was disqualified for an illegal knee in the second round. Given the controversial past of Greg Hardy, many fans imagined that this DQ loss would signal the end of his stint in the UFC. UFC President Dana White, however, seems to be looking at the situation very differently.
Gregor Gillespie had his wallet stolen at UFC Brooklyn
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
On Saturday night, on the main card of UFC Brooklyn, wrestling ace Gregor Gillespie secured the dominant victory he was seeking, thrashing the dangerous Yancy Medeiros to second-round stoppage. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news for the surging lightweight contender. At some point during the night, a slimy fan slithered into the Barclay’s Center and stole Gregor Gillespie and his coach’s fight bags. In doing so, they made off with not only his gear, but his wallet.
Dana White responds to Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone fight buzz
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
Late last year, fan favorite welterweight and lightweight contender Donald Cerrone started calling for a fight with former lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. Though Cerrone was then booked for a fight with Alexander Hernandez, he once again called for a fight with McGregor after beating Hernandez at UFC Brooklyn on Saturday night. And this time around, McGregor answered. Evidently impressed by Cerrone’s victory over Hernandez, Conor McGregor announced that he is willing to accept the fight.
What's next for UFC Brooklyn's headliners?
Cole Shelton - January 20, 2019
Last night, the UFC held its first show on ESPN and ESPN+, in Brooklyn, New York. The card was headlined by a flyweight title fight between current flyweight champion Henry Cejudo and bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. Cejudo needed only 32 seconds to put Dillashaw away. Meanwhile, headlining the ESPN portion of the card was a lightweight fight between Alexander Hernandez and Donald Cerrone. ‘Cowboy’ was back at lightweight and looking to start off his title run with a win. In the end, he put on a masterful performance and won a performance bonus and fight of the night bonus.
Dana White gives his take on Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw stoppage
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
Henry Cejudo needed only 32 seconds to defend his UFC flyweight title against UFC bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw in Saturday night’s UFC Brooklyn main event. Regrettably, Cejudo’s stoppage victory was somewhat controversial, as some members of the MMA community felt the referee stepped in early. Dillashaw certainly feels this way — and apparently he told UFC President Dana White as much when the fight ended. “He just yelled at me while I was doing an interview when he walked by, ‘That’s bullshit,’” White said post-fight (transcript via MMA Fighting). “I thought it was an early stoppage too.
Conor McGregor gives interesting perspective on Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw fight
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
Last night, in the main event of the UFC’s first card on ESPN, UFC flyweight champion Henry Cejudo made a lightning quick defense of his title, stopping slimmed down bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw in just 32 seconds. In the wake of this shockingly short super fight, fans seem to be divided. There are some fans who are simply impressed with the dominant performance of Henry Cejudo, while others seem to feel the fight was stopped early and that TJ Dillashaw should have been given more time.
Greg Hardy reacts to disqualification loss to Allen Crowder
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
Last night, in the co-main event of UFC Brooklyn, former NFL star Greg Hardy stepped into the cage for his debut UFC bout. In the end, Hardy lost this fight by disqualification, smashing his foe Allen Crowder with an illegal knee in the second round. “He was getting up, it was inexperience in mistiming it, man,” Hardy said post-fight (via MMA Fighting). “But I trying to time it like I had just watched Donald Cowboy Cerrone do, like I saw everybody else do, and I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. And it was not. I messed up.”
TJ Dillashaw disputes "ridiculous" Henry Cejudo loss
Tom Taylor - January 20, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of the UFC’s first show on ESPN+, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw dropped down to the flyweight division to challenge Henry Cejudo in a bid to become a two-division champion. Unfortunately for Dillashaw, this mission didn’t go as planned. Less than a minute into the first round, Henry Cejudo was being peeled off the bantamweight champion for a TKO victory. TJ Dillashaw, however, assures he was not in any real danger — not even close.
UFC on ESPN+ 1 Results: Henry Cejudo TKO's TJ Dillashaw
Chris Taylor - January 19, 2019
Tonight’s UFC on ESPN+1 event was headlined by a flyweight title fight between TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo. TJ Dillashaw entered tonight’s title fight with the former Olympic Gold medalist on a four-fight win streak. TJ’s most recent victories both came against Cody Garbrandt, who he knocked out at both UFC 217 and UFC 227.
Fighters react to Greg Hardy being disqualified in his UFC debut
Chris Taylor - January 19, 2019
Former NFL player Greg Hardy made his octagon debut at tonight’s UFC on ESPN+1 event in Brooklyn against Allen Crowder. After a chaotic opening five minutes the heavyweights appeared to settle down in round two.