UFC News
Dana White updates on Michael Chandler's UFC debut: There's "no hurry"
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
UFC President Dana White says there is “no hurry” to schedule the UFC debut of former Bellator lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler. Chandler signed with the UFC in the fall, and was was immediately pegged as the understudy for the UFC 254-headlining lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. In the end, both Nurmagomedov and Gaethje made it to the Octagon that night, which meant Chandler’s services weren’t needed, and his UFC debut was put on ice.
What's next for Anthony Smith and Devin Clark after UFC Vegas 15?
Cole Shelton - November 30, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 15, Anthony Smith took on Devin Clark in a short-notice five-round headliner. Smith was looking to snap his two-fight losing streak while Clark while looking to pick up the biggest win of his career and enter the light heavyweight rankings. Yet, it was Smith who scored a first-round submission to get his momentum back.
Dana White gushes over victorious UFC Vegas 15 "bad boy" Miguel Baeza
Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020
You can count UFC President Dana White among the multitudinous new admirers of Puerto Rican welterweight prospect Miguel Baeza. Baeza returned to the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 15 last weekend, defeating hard-nosed Japanese star Takashi Sato by submission. With the win, which broadcasted on ESPN, the 28-year-old improved to an impressive 10-0 overall, and gave the impression that he could become a big star in the near future.
Jack Hermansson explains why he is pulling for Israel Adesanya against Jan Blachowicz
Harry Kettle - November 30, 2020
UFC middleweight Jack Hermansson has explained why he would like to see Israel Adesanya defeat Jan Blachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Hermansson is set to step back into the Octagon on Saturday night for the first time since his win over Kelvin Gastelum on Fight Island. “The Joker” was set to face both Darren Till and Kevin Holland before they were forced to pull out, and now, he’s square off against fellow European star Marvin Vettori.
Ben Askren and Mike Perry express interest in fighting Jake Paul
Christopher Taylor - November 29, 2020
Mixed martials arts fighters Ben Askren and Mike Perry have expressed interest in fighting Youtuber Jake Paul following last night’s ‘Tyson vs. Jones Jr.’ event. The 23-year-old, Paul (2-0), returned to the squared circle yesterday evening in Los Angeles for a bout with former NBA star Nate Robinson.
Nate Robinson issues statement following knockout loss to Jake Paul
Christopher Taylor - November 29, 2020
Former NBA star Nate Robinson suffered a brutal knockout loss to Jake Paul in the co-headliner of last night’s ‘Tyson vs. Jones Jr.’ event. The popular YouTuber, Jake Paul, (2-0) had made his boxing debut back in August of 2018, on the same card that his brother Logan squared off with KSI. That evening, Jake picked up a fifth-round TKO victory over KSI’s younger brother Deji Olatunji.
Khamzat Chimaev "good to go" for Leon Edwards fight despite reports of COVID-19 positive test
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev says he’s “good to go” for the Leon Edwards fight despite reports of a COVID-19 positive test. Chimaev and Edwards will meet in the main event of UFC Vegas 17 on December 19. This five-round welterweight bout between two of the top-15 ranked fighters in the division is one of the most highly-anticipated bouts that fans are looking forward to. It’s the last UFC fight scheduled to take place in 2020, and the promotion is looking for the year to end with a bang as Chimaev vs. Edwards has the potential to be fireworks.
Dana White still believes Khabib Nurmagomedov will come back to make it 30-0
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC president Dana White still believes that UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will come back to the Octagon to make it 30-0. Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke in the main event of UFC 254 on Fight Island in October. Immediately after getting the finish, the Russian champion took the mic and used his post-fight speech as an opportunity to retire from mixed martial arts. However, he never made it official, and in the past few weeks, we have heard rumblings that Nurmagomedov is in fact considering fighting one more time.
Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira rematch added to UFC Super Bowl card
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
An intriguing rematch between top-15 lightweights Beneil Dariush and Diego Ferreira has been added to the UFC Super Bowl card. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported the rematch between Ferreira and Dariush will take place on the UFC Fight Night card on February 6. The main event of the evening is expected to be a five-round headliner between heavyweight contenders Alistair Overeem and Alexander Volkov. Ferreira vs. Dariush will likely be on the main card.
Mike Tyson says the UFC made boxing a dying sport before YouTubers like Jake Paul saved it
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson says that the UFC made boxing a dying sport before YouTubers, like Jake Paul, saved it. Tyson returned from a 15-year layoff on Saturday night when he fought fellow veteran Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition boxing match that ended in a controversial draw. On the undercard of the event was a co-main event bout between the YouTuber Paul and former NBA player Nate Robinson. The brutal knockout by Paul became one of the most highly-viewed sports clips of the entire weekend. While there are certainly a lot of people talking about Tyson today, there are many also talking about Paul the YouTuber.
Dana White says everyone is going to get COVID-19: "It's like the flu, it's like the cold"
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that he believes everyone is going to be infected by COVID-19 at some point in their lives. White was asked by reporters following UFC Vegas 15 how the coronavirus pandemic has been impacting his company. The UFC president said that COVID-19 has become part of the routine for the promotion now. That’s why when several recent main events were scrapped due to the coronavirus White said that it was just another day at the office. For the UFC bossman, the promotion is getting used to his fighters catching COVID-19. In fact, White told the media that he believes everyone will catch COVID-19.
Dana White refuses to promote "old guy" fight between Anderson Silva and Roy Jones Jr.
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC president Dana White says that he refuses to promote an “old guy” fight between legends Anderson Silva and Roy Jones Jr. White recently released the 45-year-old Silva from the roster following a devastating knockout loss to Uriah Hall on Halloween. Silva has since become a free agent but has already been turned down by Bellator, PFL, and ONE Championship, though RIZIN remains interested. Another option for Silva is to go into boxing, and a fight against another aging legend like Jones Jr. is a possibility. The 51-year-old Jones Jr. fought 54-year-old Mike Tyson to a draw on Saturday night at a big boxing event in Los Angeles.
Kevin Holland plays musical chairs with Marvin Vettori, now faces Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
With Jack Hermansson now fighting Marvin Vettori, Kevin Holland played musical chairs and will now face Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 instead. Holland was set to fight Hermansson in the main event of UFC Vegas 16 on December 5, but he was pulled this week from the bout after testing positive for COVID-19. The UFC then announced that Vettori would be pulled from his fight against Souza at UFC 256 on December 12 to fight Hermansson on short notice. That briefly left Souza without an opponent, but the UFC matchmakers took care of that quickly as Holland will now take on Souza at UFC 256 barring another positive test for COVID-19.
Clay Guida announces Super Bowl weekend UFC fight against Michael Johnson
Adam Martin - November 29, 2020
Veteran UFC lightweight Clay Guida has announced that he will be competing on Super Bowl weekend in a fight against Michael Johnson. Guida took to his Instagram to make the announcement that he will be taking on Johnson in a fight that could very well see both men fighting for their spots on the UFC roster. Although Guida and Johnson have been mainstays in the Octagon for the past decade and more, they have both struggled as of late. This is a huge fight for both men as they will look to avoid being released and keep their spot on the roster.
Stephen Curry takes a jab at Nate Robinson following knockout loss to Jake Paul
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2020
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry took a jab at Nate Robinson following his brutal knockout loss to Jake Paul on Saturday night. Robinson, a former NBA dunk contest champion, made his professional boxing debut on Saturday against Paul at the Staples Center, a place that both Robinson and Curry know very well. With Robinson being a popular player during his NBA days, many of the league’s current stars took to social media to share their thoughts as the fight unfolded. Many of the players gave props to Robinson for stepping into the ring, while others decided it was a good opportunity to take a shot at him, Curry included.
Dana White reacts to Anthony Smith’s submission win over Devin Clark
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC president Dana White reacted following Anthony Smith’s slick triangle choke submission win over Devin Clark at UFC Vegas 15. Smith had suffered brutal losses to Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic earlier this year, so he had a lot to prove here against Clark in a fight that filled in as the main event on short notice. Although the bout was scheduled for five rounds, Smith didn’t need that much time to get the job done as he was able to lock in the submission and coax the tapout over Clark in the first round. It was a much-needed win for Smith, who figures to still remain in his customary spot in the 205lbs top-10 rankings.
Anthony Smith reacts following submission win over Devin Clark, suggests Paul Craig be his next opponent
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2020
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith said that following his tapout win over Devin Clark at UFC Vegas 15, he wants to fight Paul Craig next. Smith put on a stunning performance on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 15 as he tapped out Clark in the first round with a vicious triangle choke. For Smith, it was a badly-needed win after getting steamrolled by Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic in his last two fights. It was the kind of win that makes people remember why Smith was so highly-ranked in the first place, and although Clark was an unranked fighter, beating him so impressively should result in Smith facing a ranked foe next time out.
Mike Tyson reveals he smoked a joint prior to his exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr.
Adam D Martin - November 29, 2020
Boxing legend Mike Tyson admitted that he smoked a joint prior to his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. on Saturday night in Los Angeles. Tyson and Jones Jr. put on an entertaining, eight-round exhibition match for the fans. At the end of the 16 scheduled minutes of fighting, the fight went to three remote judges who scored the bout as a draw. Many watching felt that Tyson had done enough to get his hand raised, but ultimately it was judged to be a draw. Considering Tyson is 54 and Jones Jr. is 51, it was pretty impressive that both men were able to go the full eight rounds they were scheduled for with no one getting seriously hurt.