UFC News
Daniel Cormier says Jon Jones is not afraid of Francis Ngannou
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier came to the defense of longtime rival Jon Jones, saying he is not scared of fighting Francis Ngannou. Ngannou knocked out Cormier’s other rival Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 260 this past weekend to capture the UFC heavyweight title. Following the fight, UFC president Dana White suggested that Jones should move down to 185lbs and that he’s scared of fighting Ngannou. Ever since then, Jones has taken to social media to vent his frustrations with the UFC and with White following his comments. Jones has gone on to say that he hopes that the UFC just releases him so that he can move on with his fighting career.
Joe Rogan believes Stipe Miocic may retire after UFC 260 KO loss: "It could be the end of a long and storied career"
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
Joe Rogan thinks there is a chance UFC 260 was the final time Stipe Miocic competes. In the main event of the pay-per-view card, Miocic fought Francis Ngannou three years after he dominated the first fight to defend his heavyweight title. However, in the rematch, Ngannou showed off his improved takedown defense and sprawling abilities. On the feet, he was landing heavy shots and in the second round, after dropping Miocic, he landed a clean shot that put the heavyweight champ out cold.
Sean O'Malley praised for "masterpiece" by Dana White
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley was praised by UFC president Dana White for his “masterpiece” of a performance at UFC 260. O’Malley put on another fantastic performance as he finished Thomas Almeida in the third round with punches to bounce back from a TKO loss to Chito Vera in his last fight. O’Malley hurt Almeida badly in the first round with strikes only for his opponent to somehow get up and stay in the fight. However, O’Malley continued to pepper Almeida with shots until eventually taking him out in the third round with an “unnecessary” knockout blow.
Jon Jones asks the UFC to "please just cut me already"
Adam Martin - March 29, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones took to social media on Monday afternoon and asked the world’s leading MMA promotion to release him from his deal. Jones and the UFC are currently going head-to-head over a potential Francis Ngannou superfight. Jones announced last summer that he would be moving up to heavyweight in 2021, and UFC president Dana White teased that he would be next in line to fight the winner of Ngannou vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 260, which turned out to be Ngannou. However, after the event was over, White insinuated that Jones was scared of moving up to heavyweight to fight Ngannou and instead suggested he move down to middleweight.
Paddy Pimblett signs with UFC
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2021
Former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Paddy Pimblett has officially signed a new free-agent contract with the UFC. Pimblett first appeared on the UFC fan rankings last week, which hinted that he could be signing with the promotion soon. Sure enough, the UFC has inked the former Cage Warriors star to a new deal. On Monday, the UFC officially announced on its social media pages that Pimblett has signed a contract to fight in the Octagon. Check it out below.
What's next for Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic after UFC 260?
Cole Shelton - March 29, 2021
In the main event of UFC 260, Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic had their rematch three years in the making for the heavyweight title. Miocic entered the fight coming off of his trilogy fight against Daniel Cormier to reclaim and defend his heavyweight title. He also dominated Ngannou for five rounds using his wrestling to win the fight. Ngannou, meanwhile, was on a four-fight winning streak with all four wins coming by first-round KO and the longest fight going 71 seconds.
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 close to being official for UFC 264
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2021
The trilogy fight between UFC superstar Conor McGregor and rival Dustin Poirier is close to being made official for UFC 264 this summer. We have known for a few weeks now that the UFC plans on booking McGregor vs. Poirier 3 in the wake of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement from MMA, but it’s getting closer to the point of both men putting ink to paper. We heard recently that the July 10 date for the fight seemed likely, and now we have a name for the event as UFC 264 is what it will be called. According to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the trilogy between McGregor and Poirier is close to being booked and could be finalized this week.
Video | New angle shows just how brutal the Sean O’Malley “unnecessary” final punch on Thomas Almeida was
Adam D Martin - March 29, 2021
A new camera angle shows just how brutal Sean O’Malley’s “unnecessary” final punch on Thomas Almeida was during their UFC 260 fight. O’Malley took on Almeida in a highly-anticipated bantamweight bout between two strikers on the UFC 260 pay-per-view card. In the first round, O’Malley knocked Almeida down along the fence with strikes but he walked away and somehow the Brazilian was able to recover and survive. In the third round, however, O’Malley was able to knock Almeida down again and this time, he didn’t let him off the hook. After dropping his opponent to the canvas, O’Malley landed an absolutely brutal hammer fist that put his lights out completely.
Chael Sonnen lists reasons for Derrick Lewis deserving the next UFC heavyweight title shot, this while trashing Jon Jones
Harry Kettle - March 29, 2021
Chael Sonnen listed the reasons why Derrick Lewis deserves the next shot at the UFC heavyweight title – while taking a shot at Jon Jones. We now all know that at UFC 260, Francis Ngannou finally ascended to the top of the mountain and beat Stipe Miocic to claim the heavyweight crown. In doing so, he also avenged his defeat to Miocic from UFC 220 back in 2018.
Dana White weighs in on the future of Stipe Miocic following his UFC 260 title loss to Francis Ngannou
Christopher Taylor - March 28, 2021
Dana White is not sure what the future holds for Stipe Miocic following his title loss to Francis Ngannou at last night’s UFC 260 event. Miocic (20-4 MMA) and Ngannou (16-3 MMA) squared off for a second time yesterday evening on pay-per-view. The pair had originally collided at UFC 220, with the Cleveland native emerging victorious by way of unanimous decision.
Ben Askren claps back at Jorge Masvidal: “I’ve refrained for 2 years, you landed the luckiest knee of your life and I made you famous”
Christopher Taylor - March 28, 2021
Ben Askren has finally had enough of the trash talk from his former opponent Jorge Masvidal. At UFC 239 Masvidal and Askren squared off in a highly anticipated welterweight bout. It was thought that if ‘Funky’ defeated ‘Gamebred’ at the event, he would go on to earn a title shot.
Khamzat Chimaev reveals he thought he had cancer when he coughed up blood
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC welterweight prospect Khamzat Chimaev revealed he thought he had cancer when he coughed up blood after a training session in Las Vegas. Chimaev was supposed to fight Leon Edwards in March but he was forced out of the fight due to a severe battle with COVID-19, a battle that left him coughing up blood and thinking his career was over. Speaking to RT Sport in a recent interview, Chimaev revealed that his initial instinct was to think he had cancer after seeing himself cough up blood into the sink.
Jon Jones: Still time to save Francis Ngannou fight, expects fight proposal next week
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones says that he is supposed to be seeing a fight proposal from the world’s leading MMA organization next week. Jones was widely expected to fight the winner of UFC 260’s main event between Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic, which turned out to be Ngannou after he knocked the former champ out in brutal fashion in the second round to take home the title. However, following the event UFC president Dana White said that Jones won’t be getting the next title shot and that it would be Derrick Lewis who will fight Ngannou next. White also insinuated that Jones should move down to 185lbs given how dominant Ngannou was against Miocic.
Jorge Masvidal takes a shot at Ben Askren: "The individual I buried does not represent MMA"
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal took a shot at former Octagon rival Ben Askren, saying that he doesn’t represent MMA. Askren returns to combat sports on April 17 when he fights Jake Paul on the latest Triller boxing card. Askren retired from the UFC in late 2019 following a submission loss to Demian Maia. That loss came on the heels of a brutal flying knee KO loss to Masvidal at UFC 239. In that fight, “Gamebred” needed just five seconds to rush across the Octagon and nail Asken right on the chin, and it put him out cold. It’s considered by many to be one of the best knockouts in MMA history and will be on the highlight-reel for years to come.
Vicente Luque issues statement following submission win over Tyron Woodley at UFC 260
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque issued a statement following his submission win over Tyron Woodley in the co-main event of UFC 260. Luque took on Woodley in one of the biggest fights of his career to date, and he passed the test with flying colors when he submitted the former UFC welterweight champion with a D’arce choke in the first round. It was a wild fight for as long as it lasted, as both men blasted each other with big shots and rocked each other, but eventually, Luque proved that he is the superior mixed martial artist at this point of their careers with the submission win.
Dana White believes going back to sold out arenas is "the right thing to do"
Cole Shelton - March 28, 2021
Dana White is looking forward to having UFC events in different cities with sold-out crowds. At UFC 261 on April 24, the Las Vegas-based promotion will be heading to Jacksonville, Florida for a full capacity event that has already sold out. It’s a decision that many have mixed opinions about. However, the UFC appears to be done with pay-per-view events at the UFC Apex after UFC 260 which White is glad about.
Dana White gushes over "scary" Francis Ngannou following KO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC president Dana White gushed over “scary” Francis Ngannou following his second-round KO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. Ngannou finished Miocic with strikes in the second round of what was his most complete performance in the UFC to date. We already knew that Ngannou had huge power in his hands, but he showed a complete game in the rematch with Miocic. In addition to his punches that finished the fight, Ngannou also showed some growth in his overall skillset with improved wrestling, both offensively and defensively, and a varied striking attack. It was an excellent performance overall, and that’s why Ngannou is the champion today.
Vicente Luque calls out Nate Diaz following submission win over Tyron Woodley
Adam Martin - March 28, 2021
UFC welterweight contender Vicente Luque called out Nate Diaz following his first-round submission win over Tyron Woodley at UFC 260. Luque picked up the biggest win of his UFC career to date when he submitted Woodley in the co-main event of UFC 260 with a D’arce choke. It was a wild fight for as long as it lasted, with Woodley landing a big punch early on that rocked Luque, only to see the Brazilian come back and hurt Woodley on the feet before taking him to the ground and finishing him by submission. It’s the kind of marquee win that Luque needs in order to fight the upper echelon of the UFC welterweight division as he continues to march towards the title. But before a title shot comes, Luque wants to take a money fight against Diaz first.