UFC News

Harry Kettle - July 6, 2020

UFC commentator and former fighter Paul Felder was involved in an entertaining exchange with a fan on social media who suggested he’s better off retired. Felder, 35, went to war with Dan Hooker back in late February over in Auckland, New Zealand. “The Irish Dragon” came up short in a unanimous decision defeat to the Kiwi, and in the immediate aftermath of the loss, he seemed to indicate that he would be retiring from mixed martial arts.

Natasha Hooper - July 6, 2020

Ben Askren has reacted to the news of his former opponent Jorge Masvidal’s upcoming fight against Kamaru Usman. On Sunday it was announced that the UFC welterweight champion Usman and the ‘BMF’ winner Masvidal will collide at Saturday’s UFC 251 event on Dana White’s Fight Island.

Christopher Taylor - July 5, 2020

Gilbert Burns has fired back at Nate Diaz after the ‘Stockton Slugger’ suggested that fans now have a “real fight” in Jorge Masvidal vs. Kamaru Usman. Diaz was highly critical of Burns receiving a title shot before disaster struck the previously scheduled UFC 251 headliner.

Adam Martin - July 5, 2020

The UFC 251 main event between UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal is official after ‘Gamebred’ tested negative for COVID-19. The UFC made the official announcement at midnight on Monday morning on its Twitter.

Christopher Taylor - July 5, 2020

Nate Diaz is happy to see a “real fight” between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman headline next weekends UFC 251 pay-per-view event. Friday night it was announced that the previously booked UFC 251 main event between Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman was forced to be scrapped, this after the Brazilian contracted the Coronavirus.

Adam Martin - July 5, 2020

Months after the original opening betting line was released, we have an update on the betting odds for Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal. After Usman defeated Colby Covington via fifth-round TKO in an all-out war at UFC 245, the oddsmakers released a line for Usman against Masvidal. The opening betting odds at the time saw Usman open as a -260 betting favorite, with Masvidal opening as a +200 underdog. Nearly seven months later and with the two finally set to settle their score at UFC 251, now the betting lines have shifted as the fight becomes closer and closer to finally becoming a reality on Fight Island.

Adam Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal has set a UFC record by acquiring the title shot at UFC 251 against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. With 48 pro MMA bouts during his 17-year MMA career, Masvidal has set the record for having the most total fights before getting a UFC title shot. When Masvidal fights Usman next Saturday at Fight Island, it will be the 49th time that he steps into the cage. It took him longer than anyone the sport has ever seen to get his shot at a UFC belt, and even though he’s fighting on super short notice, expect him to make the most of his chance.

Adam Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC president Dana White confirmed that the reported bout between UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and top contender Jorge Masvidal is a go. After testing positive for COVID-19, No. 1 contender Gilbert Burns was forced off of UFC 251 late Friday night, leaving Usman temporarily without an opponent. But the UFC was able to work quickly all weekend and in the end, the UFC was able to strike a deal between Usman and Masvidal to headline the UFC 251 card. The bout will take place next Saturday on Fight Island pending negative tests from the fighters and their teams for COVID-19.

Adam Martin - July 5, 2020

The UFC has signed Invicta FC strawweight champion Kanako Murata to a contract to compete for the world’s leading MMA organization. Murata herself confirmed the news on her social media after her former promotion RIZIN FF reported that she had signed a new deal with the UFC. Check out her Twitter below.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns reacted after the news that Jorge Masvidal will step in to face Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 next Saturday night. Late Friday night, Burns was pulled from his scheduled bout against Usman on Fight Island after testing positive for COVID-19. Since news of Burns’ positive test broke, the UFC has been working hard to get a deal done between Usman and Masvidal. On Sunday, it was reported by numerous sources including BJPenn.com’s own Cole Shelton that the Usman vs. Masvidal fight is a done deal pending the results of their tests.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker posted a photo of his face one week after his Fight of the Year war against Dustin Poirier, adding that he looks “good as new.” Hooker and Poirier threw down for 25 minutes of action at UFC on ESPN 12 last Saturday night in one of the best UFC fights of the year, if not all-time. Hooker and Poirier somehow managed to make it the full five rounds despite throwing everything including the kitchen sink at each other. Although both men survived without being finished, both men took a huge amount of damage in the fight, including Poirier showing off a swollen ankle and Hooker exhibiting numerous cuts on his face.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and top contender Jorge Masvidal are en route to Las Vegas ahead of a potential showdown at Saturday’s UFC 251 event. After Gilbert Burns dropped out of the Usman fight late Friday night after testing positive for COVID-19, the UFC has been working fast behind the scenes to secure a replacement fight between Usman and Masvidal. Both men have tweeted that they have agreed to the fight and now it comes down to the UFC getting the deal signed and having both men test negative for the coronavirus so they can fly to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC ring card girl Brittney Palmer and Bellator women’s fighter Valerie Loureda were among the MMA notables who got into the Independence Day spirit. Along with hundreds of millions of Americans, numerous MMA fighters celebrated the 4th of July on Saturday and posted photos of their celebrations on their social media. Take a look at some of them below, five from the women of MMA, and five from the men of MMA.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski is not buying Max Holloway’s claim that he has been training alone in preparation for their fight at UFC 251. Volkanovski meets Holloway in a rematch next Saturday at UFC 251 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. The two met last December at UFC 245 in Las Vegas, where Volkanovski pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Holloway via unanimous decision and taking home the UFC featherweight crown. Despite Volkanovski clearly winning the fight, the UFC decided to give Holloway an immediate rematch and the two will once again lock horns when they square off in the Octagon next weekend at UFC 251.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who recently retired from MMA, is back in the news again and this time it’s because he called out WWE chairman Vince McMahon. McGregor knocked out Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 back in January and was expected to be next in line to fight for the UFC lightweight title, but numerous factors went against that from happening. The coronavirus pandemic meant that UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov couldn’t fight Tony Ferguson, and Ferguson instead went on to fight and lose to new interim champ Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. The UFC is now planning on Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje to unify the lightweight belts at UFC 253 in September.

Adam D Martin - July 5, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal has been training recently, so he should be in shape in case he fights Kamaru Usman on short notice at UFC 251. Usman was set to fight Gilbert Burns at UFC 251, which takes place in just six days from now at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, but late on Friday night it was revealed that Burns tested positive for COVID-19 and he had to be removed from the card. That left Usman without an opponent and put the wheels into motion for Masvidal to jump in on short notice and take on Usman next weekend at Fight Island.

Chris Taylor - July 4, 2020

Barring any positive tests for Covid-19, BMF title holder Jorge Masvidal will square off with Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight title on Fight Island. That news was reported moments ago by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, who revealed the following information on Sports Center.

Christopher Taylor - July 4, 2020

It appears that BMF title holder Jorge Masvidal will challenge Kamaru Usman for the promotions welterweight championship after all. Earlier this year it was reported that the UFC was looking to book ‘Gamebred’ against ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ at a July pay-per-view event. However, negotiations between Masvidal and the UFC stalled, so the promotion turned to streaking contender Gilbert Burns.