UFC News
Jon Jones reflects on six-year anniversary of first fight with "hater" Daniel Cormier: "Stipe is your rival I’m your superior"
Adam Martin - January 3, 2021
UFC superstar Jon Jones reflected on the six-year anniversary of his first fight with Daniel Cormier, saying it created a “hater” forever. Jones and Cormier first met on Jan. 3, 2015, at UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier. At the time Jones was the UFC light heavyweight champion and Cormier was challenging him for the belt. The two went five hard rounds that night, with Jones winning a unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Night” winning performance by both men. The fight would mark what would turn out to be a long-lasting rivalry between the two, who also rematched in 2017 at UFC 214.
Daniel Cormier praises Islam Makhachev: "As talented as anyone in the world"
Adam Martin - January 3, 2021
MMA analyst Daniel Cormier praised Islam Makhachev, suggesting the AKA product is one of the most talented fighters in the world. Cormier and Makhachev are teammates at American Kickboxing Academy, alongside UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. With the champion contemplating retirement, fans and media have wondered who could make a run up the division if Nurmagomedov does indeed hang up his gloves. One of those fighters could be Makhachev, the No. 13 ranked UFC lightweight. The Russian is 7-1 overall in the UFC and is in his prime at 29 years old.
Johnny Walker returns to the Octagon in March against Jimmy Crute
Adam Martin - January 3, 2021
A battle of top-15 light heavyweights is lined up for March as Johnny Walker returns to the Octagon against Jimmy Crute. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report that Walker vs. Crute is set for March 27 at the newly-announed UFC Fight Night 190 card. So far there are few details known about this card, but it seems likely to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas or on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi as all the events are held these days. Walker vs. Crute is the first bout revealed for this March 27 event.
Video | Khamzat Chimaev arrives maskless in Chechnya, explains he's out of the Leon Edwards fight due to the virus
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2021
Surging UFC contender Khamzat Chimaev was hoping to ring in the New Year by scoring his most high profile victory to date. ‘Borz’ was slated to square off against perennial welterweight contender Leon Edwards on January 20, but was forced to pullout of the contest after contracting Covid-19.
Henry Cejudo teases Dana White with photo of Deiveson Figueiredo: "This is your fighter of the year?"
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2021
Former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo continues to take jabs at Dana White over the promotions current flyweight title holder Deiveson Figueiredo. Despite retiring from mixed martial arts immediately following his TKO victory over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, Cejudo (16-2 MMA) has been relentless in his callouts of fellow fighters.
Jon Jones taunts Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz: "I didn’t leave the light heavyweight division to challenge myself, I ran out of fear"
Chris Taylor - January 2, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has reacted following news that Israel Adesanya will challenge Jan Blachowicz. Earlier this week, Dana White announced that the promotions reining middleweight champion in Adesanya would be moving up a weight class to challenge Blachowicz for the 205-pound title at UFC 259.
Video | Israel Adesanya reacts after booking title fight with Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259
Chris Taylor - December 31, 2020
Israel Adesanya will look to become a UFC champ-champ in 2021 when he challenges Jan Blachowicz for the promotions light heavyweight title. The UFC’s reigning and undefeated middleweight champion, Adesanya (20-0 MMA), is set to collide with Blachowicz (27-8 MMA) in the main event of UFC 259 on March 6.
Dana White: I didn't expect Greg Hardy to last this long in the UFC
Adam Martin - December 31, 2020
UFC president Dana White says he didn’t expect heavyweight Greg Hardy to last as long in the UFC as he has following the Contender Series. After an up-and-down NFL career that saw Hardy make it to the Pro Bowl in 2013 only to leave the league two years later following a domestic violence incident, Hardy made the transition to mixed martial arts and won three fights between 2017 and 2018. After winning two fights by knockout on the Contender Series and another one in Xtreme Fight Night, White took a shot on Hardy and signed him despite being very green with just three pro fights.
Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington "the fight we want," says Dana White
Tom Taylor - December 31, 2020
UFC President Dana White says the UFC is still keen to book a welterweight fight between top-5 contenders Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington in 2021. Covington and Masvidal, the No. 1 and 4-ranked welterweight contenders respectively, have been linked to a potential fight for months, but as of yet, the matchup has not come to fruition.
Jon Jones has "no intentions of ever going back to light heavyweight"
Adam Martin - December 31, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones confirmed that he has “no intentions of ever going back to light heavyweight” in his career. Jones vacated the 205lbs title back in the summer with a planned move up to the UFC heavyweight division. Right now, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is set to take on No. 1 contender Francis Ngannou in early 2021, and UFC president Dana White has said that Jones will be next up for the winner.
Daniel Cormier on Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement: "I just take my buddy at his word"
Tom Taylor - December 31, 2020
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier isn’t sure what the future holds for his long-time friend and training partner, UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. That being said, he’s taking the champ’s retirement announcement seriously. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after an October defeat of Justin Gaethje.
Dana White updates on Nick Diaz comeback: "I don’t think anyone should want to see him fight"
Tom Taylor - December 31, 2020
UFC President Dana White has provided an update on the potential Octagon return of former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz in 2021. Diaz, one of the most popular fighters in MMA history, has not fought since a 2015 no contest with Anderson Silva, but began teasing a 2021 comeback earlier this year.
Leon Edwards will not fight on January 20, UFC plans to rebook Khamzat Chimaev fight according to Dana White
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Leon Edwards will not be fighting on January 20 after all. Edwards was set to headline the card against Khamzat Chimaev in a really intriguing bout. However, it was revealed the Swede was out of the fight due to COVID-19, but Edwards made it clear he still wanted to fight on that date which won’t happen.
Dana White names his top three fighters to watch for in 2021
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC president Dana White named his top three fighters to watch for in 2021, pointing out Khamzat Chimaev, Kevin Holland, and Joaquin Buckley. White was a guest on the “SHOUT! Buffalo Podcast” on Wednesday and he was asked to point out his top three fighters to look forward to heading into the new year. The UFC president named three of the hottest fighters on the UFC roster right now in Chimaev, Holland, and Buckley as his top three fighters to watch for in 2021.
Dana White slams "some kid from YouTube" Jake Paul, says Amanda Nunes would put him in a coma
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
UFC president Dana White slammed YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, suggesting that UFC women’s champion Amanda Nunes would put him in a coma. Paul has become one of the biggest names in combat sports ever since he scored a viral KO over Nate Robinson on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. PPV. Since then, numerous high-profile boxers, UFC fighters, and even celebrities have called Paul out for a fight. Most recently he was connected to a matchup with Ben Askren, the former UFC welterweight. White has had some choice words about Paul in recent weeks for his choice of opponents, suggesting Nunes would KO him.
Dana White officially announces Israel Adesanya vs. Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Israel Adesanya will look to become a UFC champ-champ in 2021. Ever since Jan Blachowicz became the light heavyweight champion, UFC president, Dana White has said he wants to make Blachowicz vs. Adesanya. Now, that is what happened as the UFC boss revealed to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that the fight will take place on March 6 at UFC 259.
Betting odds released for Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
Adam Martin - December 30, 2020
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming heavyweight bout between top contenders Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. Overeem vs. Volkov is set as the five-round headliner of a UFC Fight Night card that is scheduled to take place on February 6. Overeem and Volkov are two of the top-10 heavyweights on the UFC roster and the winner of this bout will put themselves in a prime position to contend for the UFC heavyweight title by the end of 2021. Ahead of this upcoming bout, the oddsmakers have released the betting odds for the match. Check out the opening betting odds for Overeem vs. Volkov (via BestFightOdds).
Coach: Rob Font staying ready in case anything happens to Petr Yan or Aljamain Sterling
Cole Shelton - December 30, 2020
Rob Font is now a top-five bantamweight and he plans on staying ready for the upcoming title fight. At UFC Vegas 17, Font picked up the biggest win of his career as he knocked out Marlon Moraes in the first round. For his head coach, Tyson Chartier, he says the win over Moraes is a big one for Font’s confidence and silencing the doubters.