UFC News

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

Dustin Poirier responded after his rival Conor McGregor suggested that the first one to shoot for a takedown is a “dusty bitch.” Poirier clapped back at McGregor after he had choice words about whoever shoots the first takedown in their trilogy fight at UFC 264, which takes place on July 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Poirier responded with a comment to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto in return, saying that McGregor having those words about takedowns “reeks of insecurity.”

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

Former UFC light heavyweight title contender Alexander Gustafsson is set to return to the Octagon this fall when he faces off with Paul Craig. Gustafsson recently hinted that he was making a comeback, and he’ll do so on September 4 when he takes on the BJJ wizard Craig at UFC London. Frontkick.Online was the first to break the news about the Gustafsson vs. Craig fight. BJPenn.com earlier in the day confirmed that the September 4 card is scheduled to take place in London, with the other new addition of a bantamweight matchup between Nathaniel Wood and Jonathan Martinez.

Alfredo Zullino - July 1, 2021

A bantamweight clash between Nathaniel Wood (17-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Jonathan Martinez (13-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is in the works, sources with knowledge of the situation informed BJPENN.com. The sources asked for anonymity since the news hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. The contracts have not been signed, but it seems it’s in the promotion plans to book this fight in London, for September 4.

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko explained how Julianna Pena can defeat women’s double champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 265. Shevchenko and Pena fought at UFC on FOX 23 and Shevchenko won the fight in the second round by armbar, so they are very familiar with one another. Pena will next step into the Octagon this summer when she fights Nunes for her UFC bantamweight championship. Not surprisingly, Pena is the underdog at the sportsbooks and very few fans are giving her a chance to pull off the upset against Nunes, who is universally regarded as the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time. But Shevchenko thinks there’s a chance.

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

Mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre named his choice for the best active pound-for-pound fighter currently competing in the UFC. GSP was, for many years, considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever step into the Octagon. The French Canadian has been happily retired since 2017, but he still watches the sport on the regular and keeps up to date with the fights that are going on. He is also keeping a close eye on the welterweight division that he once was the king of, and of its champion Kamaru Usman.

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

Tanner Boser told Ovince Saint Preux that appealing his TKO loss is a waste of time, saying “there’s nothing to appeal. Go ahead and try.” Boser knocked OSP out in the second round with punches in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 30, but there was some controversy as it appeared as though Boser may have grabbed the fence to stand up just before landing the finishing blows. However, replays have shown that it was Boser using his fist to get up, and not his fingers. Either way, OSP has appealed the result of the fight, with part of his argument being that referee Jason Herzog touched him, which indicated to him to pause his action right before the knockout.

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says Kamaru Usman would beat Georges St-Pierre in 2021, but 2010 was a different story. Nurmagomedov recently sat down with UFC Russia for an interview and was asked about a variety of different topics. One of the questions posed to “The Eagle” was about his stablemate at Dominance MMA, the UFC welterweight champion Usman, and who would win in a superfight against the legend GSP. As far as Nurmagomedov is concerned, Usman would be the one getting his hand raised in 2021, but he believes that if this fight took place back in GSP’s prime around 2010, that the result of the fight would likely be different.

Adam D Martin - July 1, 2021

UFC lightweight fighter Luis Pena reacted after his recent arrest, suggesting that “they talking like I’m the next OJ Simpson.” Pena is accused of a domestic violence incident that took place on June 14 where he allegedly struck his girlfriend and broke her phone after he got upset he said she was looking at other men on Instagram. Pena was charged with robbery by sudden snatching, battery, and criminal mischief for the incident. The former Ultimate Fighter competitor, who is nicknamed “Violent Bob Ross” due to his likeness to the famous painter, was released this weekend from jail after putting an $8000 bond in order to get him out. Pena is now potentially facing up to five years in prison, though of course, he will have his day in court.

Christopher Taylor - June 30, 2021

Conor McGregor appears to be dealing with a staph infection just days ahead of his upcoming trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. McGregor and Poirier are set to collide for a third time on July 10, this after splitting their first two contests.

Andrew Whitelaw - June 30, 2021

Sarah Alpar has responded to Jake Paul’s generous contribution to her GoFundMePage. The YouTuber-turned-boxer showed his support this week by donating 5K USD to the UFC flyweight’s campaign.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2021

Sean O’Malley says he agreed to fight Ricky Simon but the bantamweight contender declined because he couldn’t make weight. Simon was one of many bantamweights who called out O’Malley after the news that Louis Smolka was out of the fight. “Suga” then went on Instagram seemingly accepting the fight but just minutes later he took to Twitter to claim the 28-year-old couldn’t make weight.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2021

Sean O’Malley will fight on UFC 264 next weekend after all. It was revealed on Tuesday that Louis Smolka was out of his fight against O’Malley due to a staph infection. After the news became public, several bantamweights began calling him out and O’Malley hinted on social media he agreed to face Ricky Simon. Unfortunately, Simon couldn’t make the weight and O’Malley revealed on his Twitch that he will now face UFC newcomer Kris Moutinho.

Cole Shelton - June 30, 2021

Artem Lobov doesn’t think Conor McGregor needs to leave John Kavanagh to become a world champion again. After McGregor suffered a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, many said the Irishman needed a change of camps. Yet, for Lobov, he says that will never happen due to the fact McGregor is loyal. He also says it doesn’t make sense to leave the coach that made him become a two-weight world champ.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

Jake Paul donated $5000 to the GoFundMe for UFC fighter Sarah Alpar, adding “imagine a rookie in the NBA had to start a GoFundMe to play.” Earlier this week, Alpar let her fans know that she was starting a fundraiser in order to raise money for fight camp expenses. The 30-year-old Alpar fought on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019 and made it to the UFC with a submission win over Shanna Young. She then made her UFC debut in September 2020 and lost via third-round TKO to Jessica-Rose Clark. Alpar then had two fights fall apart for May 2021 against Stephanie Egger and Lupita Godinez, before finally being re-booked for her second UFC fight when she faces off against prospect Erin Blanchfield, but that won’t take place until Septmber.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

UFC lightweight Jeremy Stephens says that YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul might knock out Tyron Woodley in their upcoming boxing match. Paul meets Woodley on August 28 in a professional boxing match promoted by Showtime PPV. For Paul, it’s his fourth pro boxing match and he earned the opportunity to fight a big name in the world of combat sports in Woodley after defeating his longtime friend and training partner Ben Askren in his last outing. For Woodley, after losing four straight fights in the UFC he was released and chose to fight Paul and earn a big payday in the process. This summer’s blockbuster PPV is expected to make both men several million dollars.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

Women’s combat sports superstar Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” VanZant competed in MMA from 2012 to 2020, and between 2014 and 2020 she fought exclusively for the UFC, where she went 4-5 overall. After becoming a free agent last summer, VanZant decided to take her talents to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although she lost a decision to Britain Hart in her BKFC debut, VanZant has already been booked for her next fight, a rematch with her former UFC opponent Rachael Ostovich.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

UFC featherweight fighter Justin Jaynes explained why he shot for a late takedown in his recent fight against Charles Rosa at UFC Vegas 30. Jaynes lost a split decision to Rosa at this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 30 card. While a preliminary card featherweight bout typically wouldn’t be getting so much attention, this particular fight did because Jaynes revealed that he bet $25,000 on himself to win the fight. Unfortunately for Jaynes, he came up just short on the judges’ scorecards.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg said in a recent interview that “the best thing for my career was leaving the UFC.” Cyborg was once the UFC women’s featherweight champion, but after beating Felicia Spencer at UFC 240 in July 2019, UFC president Dana White released her from her contract after not being able to come to an agreement on a rematch with Amanda Nunes. Cyborg then became a free agent and, not long after that, she signed with Bellator. She has since become the Bellator women’s 145lbs champion as she has continued to dominate her foes.