UFC News
Michael Bisping to commentate UFC events in 2019
Drake Riggs - December 11, 2018
Former UFC middleweight king Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping retired in May of this year and has been enjoying life as an analyst and podcaster. Since his last fight at UFC Shanghai in November 2017, he has also dabbled in some commentary on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series season 2.
Kamaru Usman says he would 'flatline' Ben Askren
Drake Riggs - December 11, 2018
The welterweight division is one of the deepest and best that MMA has to offer. Yet in the UFC, things are looking somewhat complicated at the top right now. With Kamaru Usman’s emergence as a top title threat and the long-awaited arrival of Ben Askren, the two have been making more noise than the champion Tyron Woodley and interim champion Colby Covington.
USADA says 'technical issue' led to disappearance of recent Brock Lesnar test sample
Drake Riggs - December 11, 2018
Last week, we got what appeared to be some shenanigans from USADA involving former UFC heavyweight champion and current WWE star Brock Lesnar where we saw the disappearance of one of his test samples. Obviously, this was a bit concerning as Lesnar has a history with performance-enhancing drugs and is currently being tested in the hopes of returning to likely face current champion Daniel Cormier at some point early next year.
Report | Dominick Cruz injured out of bout with John Lineker at UFC 233, Cody Garbrandt targeted as replacement
Drake Riggs - December 11, 2018
It seems that disaster has struck once again for the former bantamweight king Dominick Cruz. Having his comeback set for UFC 233 on January 26 opposite John Lineker, that appears to longer be the case as MMA Brasil’s Tarso Doria reports that Cruz has sustained yet another fight canceling injury. Thus prompting the promotion to pursue Cruz’ last opponent, Cody Garbrandt to replace him against the Brazilian.
Jon Jones gets CSAC license reinstated, is asked to enroll in additional VADA drug testing
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2018
Jon Jones has officially been removed from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) suspension list, clearing him to fight Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 232 this December 29 in Las Vegas. Jones received this positive news at a CSAC hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
Three potential options to headline UFC 233
Cole Shelton - December 11, 2018
UFC 233, the first pay-per-view of 2019, is just over a month away and it still doesn’t have a main event. That was not initially the case, as a flyweight title fight between TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo was originally supposed to headline the card. However, when that fight was moved up a week to headline the first ESPN card in Brooklyn, UFC 233 was left without a main event. Now, with the majority of champions booked, injured or recovering from recent fights, the UFC finds itself in a tough situation. There are not a lot of viable options left available for the UFC 233 main event — especially if the promotion wants to compete with Bellator 214, which will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader, and airs the same night.
Dustin Poirier doubles down on callouts of Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2018
Surging UFC lightweight contender Dustin Poirier was expected to return to the cage opposite Nate Diaz at UFC 230 in early November. Regrettably, the New Orleans native was forced out of this fight with an injury and sidelined for several weeks. Now back in fighting shape, Dustin Poirier is getting antsy. He wants to fight, and fight soon. But with UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor both tied up with imminent Nevada State Athletic Commission punishments, he’s low on viable options.
UFC 231 medical suspensions: Brian Ortega gets lengthy sit
Tom Taylor - December 11, 2018
UFC 231, which went down last Saturday night in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, produced some thrilling wars and decisive stoppages. There was featherweight champ Max Holloway’s bludgeoning of Brian Ortega in the main event. There was Gunnar Nelson’s submission defeat of Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, which was set up by a chasmal slice across Oliveira’s forehead. There was Thiago Santos and Jimi Manuwa‘s wild war, which saw both men absorb heavy artillery until the former hit the canvas for good. It was a wild and violent card, and as such, the kind of card that produced some lengthy medical suspensions — including a potential six-month sit for the vanquished Brian Ortega.
Frankie Edgar explains why he is "definitely the guy" to challenge Max Holloway next
Christopher Taylor - December 10, 2018
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar was expected to challenge Max Holloway for the promotions featherweight title at UFC 222. Unfortunately for fight fans, that contest failed to come to fruition after “Blessed” suffered an injury in training.
Jon Jones blasts former MMA journalist who was recently found guilty of child pornography
Christopher Taylor - December 10, 2018
Former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones will return to the octagon at UFC 232 on December 29, where he will rematch Alexander Gustafsson for the promotions interim 205-pound title. “Bones” has not stepped foot inside the cage since defeating Daniel Cormier via third-round knockout in the main event of UFC 214 in July of 2017.
Dustin Poirier scolds UFC for holding up lightweight division, calls for fight with Tony Ferguson
Thomas Taylor - December 10, 2018
Reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and former champion Conor McGregor were expected to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today to face the music for their infamous UFC 229 post-fight brawl. Unfortunately, both fighters were granted continuances, meaning they will not be disciplined until at least January 29. In other words, neither man is going to be fighting for quite some time. For top lightweight contenders like Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson, this is understandably frustrating new. Luckily, Poirier has a solution that the fans will surely love.
EXCLUSIVE | Megan Anderson: Not like most girls
Drake Riggs - December 10, 2018
Growing up can be a very difficult task to be faced with. What may be easy to some can be tougher for others for various reasons. All experiences are different but similarities can and most likely will still exist. No one wants to get old, however, it happens to everyone, and as time goes on, us and the world around us changes. And dealing with the changes shapes us into who we are.
EXCLUSIVE | Former UFC fighter Brad Pickett is focused on coaching, but willing to fight again
Cole Shelton - December 10, 2018
After a long career as a WEC and UFC bantamweight contender, Brad Pickett retired in 2017 and is now focusing on coaching and managing fighters. Picket always knew he would get into coaching. While he was a UFC fighter he loved helping out the younger fighters improve and show them what it takes to make it to the UFC. Although he was helping the fighters back then, he says it’s been different to focus exclusively on coaching.
John Kavanagh will have to be convinced to train Conor McGregor for another fight
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2018
SBG Ireland head coach John Kavanagh isn’t sure if his star pupil Conor McGregor will fight again. If the Irish MMA superstar does elect to fight again, however, Kavanagh will have to be convinced to train him for the bout. John Kavanagh explained why he feels this way in a recent interview with The Irish Independent.
Joe Rogan makes his pick for Conor McGregor's next opponent
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2018
There are plenty of interesting options on the table for the next fight of former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. In the opinion of UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, however, there is one matchup that stands out from the rest: A trilogy fight with Nate Diaz. McGregor and Diaz have met twice previously, earning a win apiece, and Rogan believes the timing couldn’t be better for a tie-breaking trilogy fight.
EXCLUSIVE: Zak Ottow talks fighting in Milwaukee and making a statement
Mike Straus - December 10, 2018
Originally not scheduled to compete this weekend, Milwaukee’s own Zak Ottow is beyond excited to be fighting on the historical UFC on FOX 31 card. The UFC is returning to Milwaukee for the first time since 2013. Despite lobbying for the Octagon to return, Ottow wasn’t apart of the UFC’s original fight night line up. However, it pays to stay ready as “The Barbarian” explains.
Khabib Nurmagomedov NSAC hearing delayed until New Year
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2018
Shortly after Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 229, he leapt over the cage and attacked McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis. In the ensuing fracas, McGregor swapped punches with a pair of Nurmagomedov’s training partners inside the cage. Ever since this chaotic scene occurred, we’ve been waiting with bated breath to see how the sanctioning Nevada State Athletic Commission will punish Nurmagomedov and McGregor.
Ben Askren accuses Kamaru Usman of acting just like Colby Covington
Tom Taylor - December 10, 2018
Kamaru Usman has been angling for a fight with Colby Covington for some time, admitting that he might even prefer the matchup to a fight with UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately for Usman, Covington is likely to battle Woodley next, which means Usman will have to look elsewhere for his next opponent. Former ONE and Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren is hoping to make that search easy for him. Askren, who is currently booked to fight Robbie Lawler at UFC 233 on January 26, recently offered to battle Usman on the card instead.