UFC News

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

UFC President Dana White claims Colby Covington was never in consideration to replace Gilbert Burns against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 251 main event. Until last weekend, Usman, the UFC welterweight champion, was expected to defend his title against Burns at UFC 251. However, Burns then tested positive for COVID-19, thrusting the UFC into a desperate search for a replacement challenger for Usman.

Cole Shelton - July 7, 2020

Alex Volkanovski didn’t think Max Holloway would want to run things back right away. At UFC 245, Volkanovski beat Holloway to become the new featherweight champion. After the event, there was talk of an immediate rematch, but the Aussie admits he didn’t think the Hawaiian in Holloway would take it.

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

UFC President Dana White says there will only be one title on the line when Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal collide in the UFC 251 main event. Masvidal is set to challenge Usman for the undisputed welterweight title in the headliner of the card, which will emanate from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. The winner of the bout will leave the island with the welterweight title in their luggage.

Adam Martin - July 7, 2020

UFC president Dana White called welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal “absolutely brilliant” for sliding into the UFC 251 main event against Kamaru Usman. Usman was supposed to put the UFC welterweight title on the line against No. 1 contender Gilbert Burns, but when Burns tested positive for COVID-19 and fell off the card, Masvidal put his hand up and said he wanted to take the fight. The UFC spent all weekend getting the Usman vs. Masvidal fight done, and once the fighters tested negative for the coronavirus, the promotion officially announced the new main event of UFC 251.

Natasha Hooper - July 7, 2020

Georges St-Pierre believes there are only three types of people in combat sports and he recently explained what sets those types apart. The former UFC welterweight champion retired from the sport in 2019 but is still regarded as one of the greatest MMA athletes of all time. He is also celebrated for his thoughtful and philosophical approach, both inside and outside the cage. Now St-Pierre is sharing his knowledge bombs with fans.

Tom Taylor - July 7, 2020

Former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo recently teased a “super legacy fight” with ONE Championship star Demetrious Johnson. Cejudo and Johnson have met twice previously. The pair first fought in 2019, when Johnson still held the UFC flyweight title in a vice grip. On that night, Johnson blew Cejudo away with a first-round TKO victory.

Harry Kettle - July 7, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington has shared his prediction for UFC 251’s main event between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal. Ever since his loss to Usman in the main event of UFC 245, “Chaos” has been relentless in calling out many top challengers at 170 pounds—including Usman and Masvidal. 

Natasha Hooper - July 7, 2020

A whole host of fighters have offered to replace Pedro Munhoz against Frankie Edgar. Munhoz is the latest fighter to be pulled from a fight due to a positive COVID-19 test. The No. 7 ranked bantamweight was expected to face Edgar on the UFC’s Fight Island on July 15. Unfortunately, he tested positive for the virus, leaving “The Answer” without an opponent for the upcoming event.

Harry Kettle - July 6, 2020

UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to be in the best shape of his career ahead of his rematch against Max Holloway on Saturday night. The popular Australian is set to defend the UFC Featherweight Championship against the former king of the division after winning it from Holloway himself back at UFC 245 in December 2019.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Gilbert Burns believes Jorge Masvidal will make the welterweight division like a circus if he becomes the champion. In the main event of UFC 251, Usman is looking to defend his belt against Masvidal. The fight was booked on just six days’ notice after Burns tested positive for COVID-19.

Adam Martin - July 6, 2020

UFC women’s strawweight star Claudia Gadelha will return to the Octagon in September when she takes on Yan Xiaonan at a newly-revealed UFC event in Las Vegas. Gadelha vs. Xiaonan was first revealed by Combate. The fight is set to take place on September 26 at a yet-to-be-announced UFC card in Vegas. It is so far the first fight to be announced for this new event. It is not yet known if this card will be a numbered event or a Fight Night, but with UFC 253 set to take place on September 19, it stands to reason that Gadelha vs. Xiaonan will be part of a Fight Night event.

Adam Martin - July 6, 2020

UFC welterweight superstar Jorge Masvidal says he’s interested in a rematch with Stephen Thompson if he defeats Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 and takes the title. Masvidal spoke to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday after it was officially announced that he will be taking on Usman for the UFC welterweight title at this Saturday’s UFC 251 card on Fight Island. When asked about who some of his potential opponents could be for his first title defense should he get by Usman and take the belt, Masvidal named both Nate Diaz and Thompson as potential rematches he would like with the title on the line.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Pedro Munhoz has tested positive for COVID-19 and his fight against Frankie Edgar is cancelled. Journalist, Raul Lopez was first to report the news, which was later confirmed by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Kamaru Usman says he will be bringing the welterweight title and the BMF title home with him this weekend. In the main event of UFC 251, Usman will look to defend his 170-pound strap when he battles Jorge Masvidal who took this fight on short notice. It is a very intriguing matchup, but for “The Nigerian Nightmare” he says nothing changes going from Burns to Masvidal.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Petr Yan believes his fight at UFC 251 against Jose Aldo was made for him to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. After Henry Cejudo shockingly announced his retirement after UFC 249 on May 9, Dana White was quick to announce it would be Yan fighting someone for the vacant title. It was later revealed it would be against Jose Aldo, and for the Russian, he is pleased he is fighting for the belt and it will be against a legend like Aldo.

Tom Taylor - July 6, 2020

Conor McGregor has issued a fiery response to a recent comment from his fellow lightweight contender Dustin Poirier. Poirier, who has lost to both McGregor and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov previously, recently told MMA Junkie that he’d prefer a rematch with the latter over the former—even if there was no belt on the line. He explained that he finds a rematch with Nurmagomedov more alluring than a do-over McGregor because, so far, nobody has been able to beat the lightweight champ.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Wallid Ismail claims Israel Adesanya has turned Paulo Costa down for UFC 251 and UFC 252. Ever since Paulo Costa beat Yoel Romero at UFC 241 last August, it was expected the Brazilian would fight the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker. Ultimately, it was “The Last Stylebender” who got the job done against Whittaker, and he and Costa were then targeted to fight in March. Yet, Costa suffered an injury so Adesanya defended his belt against Yoel Romero instead.

Tom Taylor - July 6, 2020

Daniel Cormier believes Gilbert Burns withdrawing from his UFC 251 fight with Kamaru Usman opened the door for Jorge Masvidal getting what he wants from the UFC. Burns was expected to fight Usman for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 251 this Saturday on Fight Island. Unfortunately, he was pulled from the contest when he tested positive for COVID-19.