UFC News

Tom Taylor - October 21, 2020

Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says 2020 has been the hardest year of his life. Thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, 2020 has been tough on many people, but Nurmagomedov has endured more tragedy than most. This summer, the lightweight champion lost his father Abdulmanap, who was also his coach, mentor and greatest influence.

Adam Martin - October 21, 2020

UFC president Dana White recounted the first time he spoke with lightweight Michael Chandler, explaining why it was a no-brainer to sign him. Chandler was a three-time Bellator lightweight champion and he recently became a free agent following a stunning knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the Bellator cage. White and the UFC quickly swooped in and signed Chandler, while also anointing him as the official back-up to the UFC 254 main event between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje.

Tom Taylor - October 21, 2020

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is feeling confident ahead of his fight with surging contender Jared Cannonier. Whittaker and Cannonier will collide in the co-main event of UFC 254 this Saturday night. Ahead of the matchup, the expectation is that Cannonier will earn a crack at UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya if he’s victorious. Adesanya has expressed interest in the fight, UFC President Dana White has echoed that interest, and it’s an opportunity that Cannonier is of course eager for.

Adam Martin - October 21, 2020

UFC president Dana White says the hardest fighter he has had to deal with is welterweight Tyron Woodley, saying it’s like “pulling teeth.” Woodley was the UFC welterweight champion from July 2016 when he knocked out Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 until March 2019 when he dropped his belt to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235. Since then, Woodley has struggled, losing three straight fights to Usman, Gilbert Burns, and most recently Colby Covington. His recent struggles inside the cage have led to White suggesting that Woodley should be considering hanging up his gloves.

Tom Taylor - October 21, 2020

Jamie Vernon, the producer for the extremely popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, has tested positive for COVID-19. So far, Rogan himself has tested negative for the virus, despite the fact that he works in close proximity with Vernon.

Andrew Whitelaw - October 21, 2020

Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2 looks like it’s really happening. If it does go down in January, it will be absolutely massive. There’s an important detail to be settled, though.

Tom Taylor - October 21, 2020

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has made a final prediction for his fight with interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov, who has never been beaten in 28 fights, will attempt to defend his title against Gaethje in the main event of UFC 254 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

Harry Kettle - October 21, 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov rejected a question about Conor McGregor from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith ahead of UFC 254. Nurmagomedov is gearing up for one of the biggest fights of his career so far on Saturday night as he prepares to defend the UFC Lightweight Championship against Justin Gaethje. However, many fans and pundits can’t seem to stop talking about the Russian’s UFC 229 opponent Conor McGregor.

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman has accepted a suspension for nine months by USADA due to violating the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. According to a statement from the USADA website, Sherman “tested positive for anastrozole as the result of a sample collected in-competition at UFC Fight Night on May 13, 2020. Anastrozole is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy and UFC Prohibited List.”

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

UFC president Dana White is interested in Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Georges St-Pierre, but he’s unsure if GSP can actually make 155lbs. Nurmagomedov vs. GSP is a superfight that has been talked about for a few years now by both fighters, the fans, the media, and even White himself. It would be a massive superfight between two of the best MMA fighters of all time, especially if Nurmagomedov goes for a perfect 30-0 record in the fight. If “The Eagle” defeats Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, the calls for a fight with “Rush” will grow even louder.

Cole Shelton - October 20, 2020

Francis Ngannou isn’t happy with the state of the heavyweight division. After Ngannou knocked out Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds to extend his winning streak to four, many figured he would be next in line for the title shot. However, after Stipe Miocic defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 252, he said he would need some time off and it now appears he won’t be returning until 2021.

Cole Shelton - October 20, 2020

Dana White is expecting the UFC 254 pay-per-view headlined by a lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje to do big business. In the lead up to the PPV, it has felt like a big fight as Nurmagomedov is a massive star and many think Gaethje is the toughest challenge for the champ. According to White, the trends for the fight is better than any other event they have done.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

A lightweight fight between Islam Makhachev and Rafael dos Anjos has been rescheduled for UFC Vegas 15 on November 14. This news was first reported by MMADNA.nl.

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje believes losing his father to COVID-19 will be a “driving factor” for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away at the age of 57 in July after a fatal battle with COVID-19. It’s a big loss for the sport, but most of all it’s a big loss for “The Eagle”. His father was his coach and mentor and he will be missing him in his corner. Despite the loss, Nurmagomedov continues to press on with his career, and he puts his title on the line against interim champion Gaethje this weekend at UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has explained why he wasn’t interested in fighting Islam Makhachev on short-notice. Chandler, who has yet to make his UFC debut, is on standby on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in the event that Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje is unable to compete in the UFC 254 headliner this weekend. Makhachev, meanwhile, was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos on the card, but was forced off the bill when the UFC couldn’t find him a replacement opponent after a dos Anjos injury.

Cole Shelton - October 20, 2020

The 15th episode of Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com with Cole Shelton is here ahead of UFC 254. We’re first joined by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s head coach, Javier Mendez (2:34). Next, UFC light heavyweight, Sam Alvey (16:27) joins the program. Closing out the show is UFC bantamweight, Casey Kenney (28:16).

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier had a heated exchange on Tuesday, getting into it over their respective interim title wins. Poirier and Gaethje fought in 2018, with the former winning by fourth-round TKO. Poirier later went on to capture the UFC’s interim lightweight title with a win over Max Holloway, but lost it when he came up short in a title-unifying showdown with undisputed lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Adam Martin - October 20, 2020

The rematch between women’s strawweight contenders Angela Hill and Tecia Torres has been booked to take place at UFC 256 later this year. MMAjunkie.com was the first to report the rematch between Hill and Torres that is set to take place at UFC 256 on December 12 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hill and Torres previously met back at UFC 188 in 2015, with Torres winning a unanimous decision. That was the second fight for both women in their UFC careers. Five years later and both women meet once again in the Octagon in what should be a key fight at women’s 115lbs.