UFC News
UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste announces pregnancy
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
Arianny Celeste, the longest-serving and best known UFC Octagon Girl, has announced that she’s having a baby with her boyfriend Taylor King. Celeste shared this exciting news on Instagram on Tuesday morning.
Quarantined Dan Hooker can't visit daughter, receives warm message from Dustin Poirier
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
Dan Hooker is currently quarantining after his UFC on ESPN 12 loss to Dustin Poirier, which means he can’t get close to his family. Hooker gave fans a snapshot of his struggle on Twitter on Tuesday, sharing a photo of himself and his daughter separated by a fence.
VIDEO | Dana White shares first look at UFC Fight Island
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
UFC President Dana White has given fight fans their first real look at the UFC’s much discussed Fight Island, located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. White shared this preview, which showcase the COVID-19 testing facilities and fight venue being built on the island, on Twitter on Tuesday morning. See it below:
Robert Whittaker says he hasn't fought like himself since first Yoel Romero bout
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker says he hasn’t felt like himself in the cage since his first fight with Yoel Romero, in July of 2017. Whittaker has made no secret of the fact that he’s recently been enduring some inner turmoil with respect to his fighting career. The former champion was expected to take on Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 in February, but pulled out of the contest, ultimately citing a need for a reset.
Coach: Dustin Poirier deserves "million-dollar payday"
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
Coach Mike Brown believes Dustin Poirier, one of his most successful pupils at American Top Team, deserves a million-dollar payday his next time out. Poirier fought last Saturday, in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, defeating Dan Hooker by decision in a 2020 Fight of the Year contender.
Coach: "Very motivated" Conor McGregor can beat Kamaru Usman
Tom Taylor - June 30, 2020
Coach John Kavanagh believes his star pupil Conor McGregor can defeat reigning UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman if he’s “very motivated.” Kavanagh discussed a potential McGregor vs. Usman fight on social media recently, sharing his confidence that his student can beat pretty much anybody with adequate preparation.
Tyron Woodley ready to “get back on the grind”, targets two more fights in 2020
Harry Kettle - June 30, 2020
Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is aiming to fight twice more in 2020 following his loss to Gilbert Burns last month. Woodley, who lost the Welterweight Championship to Kamaru Usman back in March 2019, was decisively beaten by Burns in a unanimous decision blow-out at the UFC APEX last month. Ever since then, many fans have been wondering whether or not the 38-year-old veteran would retire from the sport.
Gina Carano issues statement after Instagram removes her topless photo: “That was some classic bullsh*t”
Harry Kettle - June 30, 2020
As you can tell, Carano wasn’t about to let that one slide. So that’s what it’s like to be censored for no reason. Pic was taken down by Instagram. There’s much more important news today but that was some classic bullshit. The whole post was about freedom of expression. Violating zero rules. Ironic. Feels like I graduated. 👍 Thanks Karen pic.twitter.com/hJDn4Vph49
Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly earned $16.5 million in 2019-2020, including $10 million for Dustin Poirier fight
Adam Martin - June 29, 2020
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was reportedly Russia’s “most successful” celebrity or athlete under 40 with $16.5 million earned in 2019-2020. Forbes reported that Nurmagomedov totaled $16.5 million in earnings for the fiscal year ending in April 2020. This put Nurmagomedov in elite company as he was ranked ahead of NHL superstars Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and Artemi Panarin, plus a number of Russian celebrities and musicians, as well.
Jon Jones believes he "just has to get through round one" to beat Francis Ngannou if they end up fighting
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2020
Jon Jones knows there is a very real chance Francis Ngannou knocks him out if they end up fighting. But, the light heavyweight champion is confident in his skill set that he would be able to get the job done against ‘The Predator’. Following Ngannou’s massive UFC 249 win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Jones talked about moving up to heavyweight to fight him. It immediately caught the fans’ attention. Jones’ coach in Mike Winkeljohn said it was time for “Bones” to go to heavyweight.
What's next for Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker after UFC on ESPN 12?
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2020
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 12, aka UFC Vegas 4, Dustin Poirier was looking to return to the win column when he battled Dan Hooker. Ahead of the fight, many were expecting the bout to earn Fight of the Night honors. Yet, the two put on an all-time great fight and exceeded many fan’s expectations. In the end, it was Poirier who edged out the unanimous decision win after five hard rounds.
Charles Oliveira calls for McGregor, Poirier or Ferguson as next opponent
Cole Shelton - June 29, 2020
Charles Oliveira is looking to fight a top-ranked opponent in his next UFC appearance. The Brazilian is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak where last time out he submitted Kevin Lee in the main event of UFC Brasilia. It was a massive win and since he moved back up to lightweight, Oliveira has gone 8-1 with his lone loss to Paul Felder.
UFC on ESPN 12 medical suspensions: 3 fighters facing 6-month layoffs
Tom Taylor - June 29, 2020
UFC on ESPN 12 was an action-packed card from beginning to end. Unfortunately, the card also produced a number of lengthy medical suspensions. UFC on ESPN 12 was headlined by a lightweight war between ranked contenders Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker. Despite a strong start from Hooker, Poirier won this fight by unanimous decision. Both men have been suspended until August 27 with no contact until August 12.
John Kavanagh says Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje was 'close to being done'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 29, 2020
Head coach John Kavanagh claims Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje was close to materializing. Gaethje has been on a tear since dropping back-to-back bouts against Dustin Poirier and Eddie Alvarez. “The Highlight” is riding a four-fight winning streak. In that span, he’s beaten Tony Ferguson, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Edson Barboza, and James Vick.
UFC on ESPN 12 salaries: Dustin Poirier leads the pack
Tom Taylor - June 29, 2020
The salaries for last weekend’s UFC on ESPN 12 card, headlined by a lightweight war between Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker, have been revealed. Poirier and Hooker engaged in one of the best fights of the year at UFC on ESPN 12—arguably one of the best fights in UFC history period. Hooker started the fight strong, but Poirier surged back in the second half, upping his striking output to capture a unanimous decision win.
Mike Perry rates girlfriend Latory Gonzalez's cornering
Tom Taylor - June 29, 2020
Mike Perry had just one person in his corner for his UFC on ESPN 12 fight against Mickey Gall: His girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez. Ahead of the fight, Perry’s decision to forgo actual coaches in favor of his girlfriend, who had never cornered a fight before, was met with widespread skepticism.
Robert Whittaker admits retirement was a possibility before Till fight
Tom Taylor - June 29, 2020
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker says retirement was a possibility before he signed on to fight Darren Till on July 25. Whittaker last fought in October, when he surrendered the UFC middleweight title to Israel Adesanya. He was briefly scheduled to return to the cage against Jared Cannonier at UFC 248, but ultimately withdrew from the matchup.
Paige VanZant listed as massive underdog against Amanda Ribas
Tom Taylor - June 29, 2020
Fan favorite strawweight and flyweight fighter Paige VanZant has been listed as a huge betting underdog ahead of her fight with Amanda Ribas. VanZant and Ribas will collide at UFC 251 on July 11 in Abu Dhabi—the setting of the UFC’s much-discussed Fight Island. The bout will be VanZant’s first since a January, 2019 submission win over Rachael Ostovich, as she’s been sidelined with a string of unfortunate arm injuries.